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23d Congress, f Doc. No- 36. 1 Ho. of Reps. 

2d Session. Stale Dept. 



DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 



LETTER 



THE SECRETARY OF STATE, 

On the subject of the contract entered into by Edward Livingston, late 
Secretary of State, luith Matthew St. Clair Clarke and Peter Force, 
for the collection and piMication of the Documentary History of the 
American Revolntion. 



December 24, 1834. 

Read, and laid upon the table. 



Department of Statsj^ 

December 22, 1S34„ 

The tindersigned, Secretary of State, in pursuance of the directions 
Contained in the act of the 29th of June last, making it " the duty of the 
Secretary of State to examine the contract entered into by Edward 
Livingston, late Secretary of that department, with Matthew St. Clair 
Clarke and Peter Force, for the collection and publication of the Docu- 
mentary History of the American Revolution, and make a special report 
thereon to the next session of Congress ; setting forth the nature and cha- 
racter of the materials of which the work is to be composed, the progress 
made in the work, the number of volumes which will be required to 
complete it, and an estimate of the money which it may be necessary to 
appropriate for the fulfihnent of the contract," has the honor to submit 
the following report : 

1st. As to the contract. 

By the act of the 2d of March, 1833, the Secretary of State was 
*' authorized to contract with Messrs. Clarke and Force for the publica- 
tion of a work, entitled ' The Documentary History of the American Revo- 
lution,' to be printed in octavo or folio, as might be agreed upon : Provided 
The Mte of ekpense should not exceed the actual cost, per volume, of the 
Diplomatic Correspondence, then printing or before printed, under the 
direction of the Secretary of State." 

Accordingly, on the 19th of the same month, a contract w^as entered 
into, by which the Secretary of State authorized and directed Messrs. 
Clarke and Force, jointly and severally, to prepare and publish 1,500 
copies of the said Documentary History, according to the plan laid down 
(Gales & Seaton, print.] 



2 f Doc. No. 3G. ] ./ 

in that memorial and accompanying documents, upon wliich the act was 
passed : ihe Secretary engaging that Messrs. Clarke and Force should 
receive, at the Treasury of the United States, one cent and seven-tenths 
of a cent for each page contained in the said 1 ,500 copies, and Messrs. 
Clarke and Force engaging for themselves and each of them, their heirs, 
executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, to execute the said 
work in manner and form as before set forth, and deliver 1,500 copies of 
each volume so published ; the work to be in folio, to be printed on bet- 
ter paper, and bound in manner and form to correspond with, and be 
equal to, tlie documents reprinting by Messrs. Gales and Seaton : pay- 
ment to be made theicfor as the work progresses, from appropriations 
hereafter to be made by Congress. 

2d. As to the nature and character of the materials of which the work 
is to be composed. 

Neither the contract, nor the law under which it was made, af- 
fords any other information on this point than is contained in the title 
of the work. By the contract, however, it is to be " prepared and 
published according to the plan laid down in the memorial alid accom- 
panying documents presented to Congress, upon whcih the law Svas pass- 
ed." But even in the memorial the plan is spoken of only in vague and 
general terms, though the memorialists there say that it would appro- 
priately be called "A Documentary History of the American Revolution, 
from the commencement of the restrictive measures of Great Britain to 
the adoption of the present Constitution of the United States." They 
refer, moreover to a letter to the Secretary of State, " (dated 18th July, 
1831,) which will more fully develop thoir views." In that letter they 
state that the work " would embrace a collection of the resolves^ ad- 
dresses, memorials, remonstrances, and other proceedings of the people, 
the assemblies, and other local authorities of the colonies, relative to the 
encroachment of the British Government on their rights and privileges, 
with the correspondence and proceedings of the Royal Government ; 
also, the public papers of the Congress and of the several States, and of 
the officers and agents of both ; and, lastly, the proceedings of the Con- 
gress, the States, &.c. in matters relating to the confederation up to the 
adoption of the present constitution and organization of the present Go- 
vernment." It appears, nevertheless, by the description given in the 
same letter of the division of subjects contained in the work, that 
it is intended to go back to the origin of the colonies. But to what ex- 
tent documents relating to events anterior to encroachments of the Bri- 
tish Government are to be introduced, is not clearly shown. By that 
description, it appears that the work is to be arranged in six divisions, " de- 
signated by certain great events," viz. " 1. the origin of the several co- 
lonies, their charters, bills of rights, &c., and the public papers previous 
to, and their condition, in, 17G3. 2. From 1763 to the Congress of 1765, 
at New York. 3. From 1765 to the Congress of 1774, at Philadelphia. 
4. From 1774 to the Declaration of Independence. 5. From 1776 to 
1783. 6. From the Peace to 1789, the organization of the present Fe- 
deral Government." 

In the absence of distinct information on the subject, it may afl'ord 
light as to the nature and character of the materials, to show the sources 
from which they are to be obtained. Upon this point Messrs. Clarke 
and Force state, in the same letter, that " the documents illustrating the 



- [ Doc. No. 36. I 3 

action of the States prior to 1774 must be collected from various sources, 
such as the Government records and individual publications and papers in 
possession of individuals ; that from 1774 to 1776 the documents can partly 
be supplied from the Department of State;" and that "from 1776 to 
1789 the principal part can be obtained in the Department of State and 
others." They also refer to lists of books and papers which they have 
procured or ordered, or which are accessible. Messrs. Clarke and 
Force, to whom the undersigned applied for information on all the points 
to which the act of the 29th of June directed his inquiries, have referred 
him to their memorial above mentioned and accompanying documents as 
being as specific and satisfactory on this head as any thing they can offer, 
and have added that the materials are as accurately and extensively de- 
scribed in the letter to Mr. Livingston, above quoted, as the limits of a 
letter would permit. Some further information on the subject, however, 
is incidentally afforded by their answer to the next point, viz. 

3d. The progress made in the Avork. 

It is stated by Messrs. Clarke and Force that, since the passing of the 
act authorizing the contract, ten States of the original thirteen have been 
visited, and that an examination is in progress in the other three ; that 
more than thirty thousand manuscript pages have been copied of the 
papers in the Department of State connected with the Continental Con- 
gress ; and that about twenty thousand manuscript pages of the State 
records and other papers in Georgia, New Hampshire, and elsewhere, 
have been copied ; that the materials collected from old periodicals, &c., 
amount to about five thousand more ; and that those connected with the 
proceedings from 1774 to 1776, which they have sent for to England, 
will amount to about five thousand ; that materials are on hand for seve- 
ral volumes, though frequently there is a hiatus which it requires much 
time and labor to supply. They speak also of various books, and of 
public and private collections of papers which they have secured, or to 
Avhich they have obtained access, for the particulars of which the under- 
signed begs leave to refer to the printed copy of their communication, 
which accompanies this report. They add, that in a short time they will 
begin to print the first volume of (he fourth series, and hope to deliver 
it early in the session of Congress. 

4th. The number of volumes required to complete the work. 

From the comprehensive nature of the collection, and the general 
terms in which the papers to be embraced in it are described, it is not 
in the power of the undersigned to make any estimate on this point. 
Messrs. Clarke and Force say that if possible they will bring the whole 
within twenty volumes, and that they now propose to limit themselves 
to that number, leaving Congress afterwards to determine whether, if 
any papers should remain, the work should be further extended. 

5th. The amount of money which it may be necessary to appropriate 
for the fulfilment of the contract. 

As the extent of the work is not known, the amount to be paid for it is 
necessarily uncertain. The act of Congress authorizing the contract made 
no other limit than as to "the rate of expense ;" and the Secretary of 
State does not appear to have thought himself justified in departing in 
this respect from the act, except in fixing the number of copies. The 
number of copies is fixed at fifteen hundred ; the number of pages in 
each volume, however, is not fixed. It is estima'ted by Messrs. Clarke 



4 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

and Force at eight hundred : if that be assumed as the number, the cost 
of fifteen hundred copies of each volume, at the contract price of one 
cent and seven-tenths per page, will be ^20,400 ; and if the number of 
volumes amount (o twenty, at which Messrs. Clarke and Force propose 
to limit it, the entire cost of the work would be ^408,000. 

From the examination which the undersigned has made of the con- 
tract, it is apparent that it is uncertain and defective. How fai: these 
defects can be remedied under the act of the 2d of March, 1833^, autho- 
rizing the contract, or by further legislation, is a question not for him to 
decide. At present there is no control over the work other than, that 
which is given by the power to withhold appropriations if the volupies,. 
when printed for delivery, should not meet the expectation of Congress,, 
or should be, in their judgment, inconsistent with the obligations of the 
compilers. Messas. Clarke and Force have expressed their readijaess to 
modify the contract, if it is desired, in some important particulars: aad^ 
as the consequences of a refusal of the appropriations would be ruinous 
to tnem after the work h^s considerably advanced, the changes, if any 
are contemplated, should be immediately made. Th^ object of these 
rhanges should be to secure a proper selection of the papers to be insert- 
ed in the work ; to limit its extent, both in the number of volumes and 
pages of each, and thus to render ceitain tlje cost of the whole, and to 
fix the time within which it should be completed. With all these pro- 
visions, it is apprehended that the work will still require a vast expendi- 
ture, probably not in contemplation when the act of the 2d of March, 
was passed by Congress. In regard to the fir&t of these objects, it is to 
be observed that, as all papers relating to, or connected with the subject 
ought not to be included, the value of the work will depend upon the 
selection and arrangement of those to be inserted ; yet the expressions, 
used in describing it are so general that it may include many papers not 
worthy of preservation, and many others, which, from having been per- 
manentl}!^ preserved in other publications, should be excluded from the 
collection, except those few whose importance might render their inser- 
tion desirable lor the facility of reference. To accomplish this object 
will produce additional expenditure,^ as it will require the appointment of 
a suitable person, to whom all papers proposed to be printed should be 
submitted, and on whose approval alone original or printed papers should 
be inserted. It has been suggested, however, that i( Congress should 
see proper to provide for such an appointment, a public officer might be 
selected ; but as the time required for the service would interfere with 
the performance of official duties, the public officer to whom the duty 
would be confided, would be compelled to perform it by substitute, and 
the substitute would receive the emolument without incurring the re- 
sponsibility of superintendence. 

As the information presented in this report may not afford alt the light 
desired on the subject, the undersigned begs leave to add that the de- 
partment is in possession of no other information relating to it than is 
contained in the memorial and other papers which have already been 
before Congress, and in the letter of Messrs. Clarke and Force, of 
which a printed copy is herewith transmitted. 

JOHN FORSYTH. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J J5 

Since the foregoing report was completed, a further communication 
from Messrs. Clarke and Force has been received, containing additional 
information respecting "the nature and character of the materials of 
which the work is to be composed, and the progress made in the work," 
which is now respectfully transmitted to Congress. 



Report made to the Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United 
States, on the subject of the Documentary History of the United States, 
now publishing under an act of Congress, by J\l. St. Clair Clarke and 
Peter Force. 

To the Hon. John Forsyth, 

Secretary of State : 

Sir : Your letter of the 29tli August was duly received, and we have 
now the honor to communicate to you as full and particular information as 
the character of the subject and our present progress will allow. 

Nothing could have been more gratifying to us than this call for infor- 
mation, believing that it opens the door for an expression of our views, 
and a statement of facts which will place the whole subject before the 
Secretary, and the Congress «f the United States, in a collected and 
intelligible view. 

The act of Congress under which our contract was made is in the 
following words : 

Be it enacted, SfC, That the Secretary of State be, and he hei'eby is, 
authorized to contract with Matthew St. Clair Clarke and Peter Force, 
for the publication of a work entitled '♦ The Documentary History of the 
American Revolution," to be printed in octavo or folio, as may be agreed 
upon : Provided, That the rate of expense shall not exceed the actual cost 
per volume of the Diplomatic Correspondence now printing, or heretofore 
printed, under the direction of the Secretary of State; the same to be dis- 
tributed and disposed of in the manner provided by the joint resolution of 
the 10th July, 1832, for the distribution and disposal of Gales and Seaton'fi 
collection of American State Papers, approved March 2, 1833. 

The articles of agreement or contract with the Secretary of State are as 
follows : 

Those articles of agreement, made and entered itito this 19th March, 
1833, between Edward Livingston, Secretary of State of the United 
States, of the first part, and Matthew St. Clair Clarke and Peter Force, 
of the second part, witness; 

Whereas the Congress of the United States, by an act approved 2d 
March, 1833, did authorize the Secretary of State to contract with said 
Matthew and Peter for the publication of a work entitled '« The Docu- 
mentary Histoiy of the American Revolution," to be printed in octavo or 
folio, as may be agreed upon : Provided, That the rate of expense shall 
not exceed the actual cost per volume of the Diplomatic Correspondence 
now printing, or heretofore printed, under the direction of the Secretary 
of State, &c. : And whereas it has been mutually agreed upon, that the said 
work shall be printed in folio : And whereas it has been ascertained, by 
the report of the agent in the Department of State, that the edition of the 



6 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Diplomatic Correspondonce now printing will cost two dollais and twenty 
cents per volinnc, without any index thereto; and whereivs the said Secre- 
tary is satisfied that, with a good and copious index, said work would have 
been worth two dollars and thirty-one and one-half cents per volume of 
live hundred and forty-four i)ages, which would amount to the cost of four 
mills and one-fourth of a mill per page of said edition : And whereas the 
folio edition >iow to be |)ublisbed by said Clarke and Force is to contain 
on each and every page four times tlie amount of matter, on piecisely the 
same tyj)C of that edition : Now, tlierefore, the said Edward Livingston, 
Secrctaiy of State of the United States as aforesaid, doth hereby authorize 
and direct the said Clarke and Force, jointly and severally, to prepare 
and ])ublish fifteen hundred copies of said "Documentary History of the 
American Revolution," according to the plan laid down in their memorial 
and accompanying documents j)rese»)ted to Congress, and upon which said 
act has been passed. And the said Edward Livingston, Secretary of State 
as aforesaid, doth hereby covenant and contract, accordingto the authority 
vested in him by tlie said act, with the said Matthew and Peter, and each 
of them, that, at the Treasury of the United States, there shall be paid unto 
the said Matthew and Peter, or either of them, the sum of one cent and 
seven-tentlis of a cent pei- page for each and every page of said work so 
])rinted and ])ublished by tiiem or either of them, contained in said fifteen 
iiundred copies. And the said Matthew and Peter, for themselves and 
each of them, their heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and seve- 
rally, do covenant and contract with the said Edward Livingston, Secre- 
tary of State as aforesaid, and with his successor in oflicc, if the case may 
so be, that they, the said Matthew and Peter, or one or either of them, 
shall and will faitlifully execute and do the said work in manner and form 
as hereinbefore set forth, and deliver unto the said Secretary, or to such 
person or persons as may be authorized to receive the same, the said fifteen 
hundred copies of each and every volume so to be published by them ; and 
the same shall be printed on better paper, and bound in manner and form 
to correspond with, and be equal to, the documents now reprinting by 
Messrs. Gales and Seaton for tlie Congress of the United States. 

Payment to be made Iherefoi* as the work progresses, from appropria- 
tions hereafter to be made by Congress. 

EDWARD LIVINGSI'ON. [l. s.] 
M. ST. C. CLARKE. [l. s.] 

P. FORCE. [L. s.j 

In pi'esencc t)f 

Edwaud St u BBS. 



Your letter of the 29th August is in the following words : 

Department of State, 

Mgust 29, 1834. 

Gentlemen : To enable me to prepare the special report required by 
law to be made at the next session of Congress, relating to the Documentary 
History of the Revolution, for which a contract was entered into with you 
by the late Secretary of State, Mr. Livingston, I have the honor to request 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 7 

that you will favor me with full and particular information upon the 
following points, viz. 

1. The nature and character of the materials of which the work is to be 
composed, discriminating between those already secured, and those 
expected to be obtained. 

2. The progress made in the work, in the collection and arrangement of 
the documents intended to be included in it. 

3. The number of volumes which will be required to complete it, and the 
time when the whole will be ready for delivery. 

And, 4. An estimate of the money which it may be necessary to appro- 
priate for the fulfilment of the contract. 

I should be glad to receive information on all these points at an early 
day : and, as it will be expected by Congress that the report should show 
the progressof the work at the latest period, I will thank you for an addi- 
tional communication upon the second point on the 1st of December next. 
I am, gentlemen, 

Your obedient servant, 

JOHN FORSYTH. 
M. St. Clair Clarke, Esq. and l\ Force, Esq. 

IVashington, li. C, 



The first point on which you request information v^ontains two inquiries : 
first, generally the nature and character of the materials of which our 
work is to be composed; second, a specification of the materials already 
secured, and those ex|)ected to be obtained. 

In answering tlie first inquiry, we cannot perceive how we can well be 
more specific, or give more satisfaction, than by referring to our memorial 
and accompanying documents presented to Congress, ujion which the act 
was passed ; and w liich, as you w ill have observed, form a substantive and 
restricting part of the contract. 

On the memorial and documents wc ask leave to make a few remarks, 
in their proper order, as part of our answer. 

MEMORIAL. 

To the honorable the Senate and Hmise of Representatives of the United 

States : 

The memorial of the subscribers respectfully represents, that as early 
as the nth day of July, 1778, the memorial of Ebenezer Hazzard was 
presented to Congress, calling their attention to the importance of "a 
collection of American State Papers." On the 20th of llie same month 
certain resolutions were passed approving of the object, and granting such 
patronage and facilities as he desired. (See copies herewith, A) 

Sliortly after Mr. Hazzard was appointed Postmaster General, two 
volmnes were published by him; but the object of Congress vas not 
attained, inasmuch as not a single document relating *' to the rise and 
progress of the present war with Great Britain," referred to by the com- 
mittee, was published by him. He gave up the work in consequence of his 
other engagements, and no one has ^ince ventured to complete it. 



8 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Your memorialists present tliemselves to Congress, willing and partially 
prepared to undertake this interesting and laborious collection. Much 
time has been devoted to the contemplation of this work, and though diffi- 
culties have been foreseen, they are not considered insuperable. 

This work would appropriately be called "A Documentary History of 
the American Revolution, from the commencement of the restrictive mea- 
sures of Great Britain to the adoption of the present Constitution of the 
United States." 

Why such a publication has not long since been made, is matter of sur- 
prise to your memorialists, who are satisfied that, without it, the true 
history of the revolution never can be presented. 

Even the Journals of Congress from 1774 to 1789 are very unsatisfac- 
tory, from the fact that the corresponding documents have never been 
printed^ The list herewith will show, for a short period, the character of 
those documents. (B.) 

A mere publication of the valuable papers in the Department of State, 
as they now exist, would be exceedingly defective, many having been 
lost or withdrawn, which would have to be supplied from other sources. 

fn the examination of the material in that department, your memorial- 
ists have had every facility given them, and finally addressed a letter to 
the Secretary of State, whicii, with his answer, is annexed, and will more 
fully develop their views. (C.) 

Your memorialists believe the present a proper time to urge Congress to 
perpetuate these records, which belong to posterity ; and fully aware that 
this is a day of bookmaking, they are willing to subject the publication to 
the inspection of any tribunal which Congress may erect. 

It can hardly be necessary to say that no work of this kind can be com- 
pleted without the assistance of the Government. 

The magnitude, the importance, the nationality of the work, it is humbly 
hoped, will, if ever to be accomplished, receive the patronage of the Con- 
gress of the United States. 

Respectfully submitted. 

M. ST. CLAIR CLARKE. 
PETER FORCE. 
Washington, Uecemher 29, 1831. 



The memorial is so explicit that no remarks appear necessary, except 
to call the attention (»f the Secretary to the fact, that, from the «< magni- 
tude," &c. of the work, having asked for the patronage of Congress, we 
proposed that they might create any tribunal considered proper, to which 
the material would be submitted before printing each volume. This they 
did not do, and we have regretted the omission, because it would have 
stamped additional authenticity and importance on our book, both at home 
and abroad. 



A. 

Philadelphia, July 11, 1778. 
SiK : Viewing Congress as the friends of science, as well as the guar- 
dians of our liberties, I flatter myself there can be no impropriety in soli- 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 9 

citing their patronage and assistance for a collection of American State 
Papers, which, from its evident utility, I am confident they will not deem 
unworthy of either. 

The design of it is to furnish materials for a good history of the United 
States, which may now be very well done ; for so rapid has been our poli- 
tical progress, that we can easily recur to the first step taken on the Con- 
tinent, and clearly point out our different advances from persecution to 
comparative liberty, and from thence to independent empire. In this par- 
ticular we have the advantage of every nation upon earth ; and gratitude 
to HeaA^en and to our virtuous fathers, justice to ourselves, and a becoming 
regard to posterity, strongly urge us to an improvement of it, before time 
and accident deprive us of the means. 

The undertaking will appear, at first view, to be too great for an un- 
assisted individual ; and experience has convinced me, that although se- 
veral years' incessant application has produced an important collection^ 
yet so numerous are the materials, and so much dispersed, that a whole 
life would be insufficient to complete it in the way in wliich I have been 
hitherto obliged to proceed. 1 now propose to visit each State for that 
purpose, and must request of Congress a certificate of their approbation of 
my design, should they approve of it, and a recommendation to the several 
Governors and Presidents to grant me free access to the records of their 
respective States, and permission to extract from them such parts as may 
fall within the limits of ray plan. 

To enable them to judge of the nature of the collection, I beg leave to 
enclose the titles of some of the materials of which it is to consist, which 
please to lay before them, and believe me to be, 
Sir, your most obedient 

And very humble servant, 

EBEN. HAZZARD. 

The Hon. Henry Laurens, Esq. 

On the same day this memorial was referred to a committee consisting 
of Richard Henry Lee, William Dtjer, and Samuel Adams. On 
the 20th they made the following report : 

That they have had the same under consideration, and, having con- 
versed with Mr. Hazzard on the subject, are of opinion that Mr. Hazzard's 
undertaking is laudable, and deserves the public patronage and encourage- 
ment, as being productive of public utility. Whereupon, 

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Governors, Presidents, 
and Executive powers of tlie several States in this Union, to assist Mr. 
Hazzard, and give facility to his labors in making a collection of the va- 
rious State papers relative to the origin and progress of the several Euro- 
pean settlements in North America, and such as relate to the rise and 
progress of the present war with Great Britain : that, for this purpose, 
he be admitted to an inspection of public records, and be furnished, with» 
out expense, with copies of such papers as he may judge will conduce to 
the valuable end he hath in view : that it be also recommended to such 
private gentlemen as may have collected any materials of the kinds above 
mentioned, to assist Mr. Hazzard in his laudable undertaking. 

The committee further report, that, in their opinion, the making this 
collection will not interfere with Mr. Hazzard's employment in the Post 
Office, nor interrupt the discharge of his duty as a surveyor of the post 
2 



10 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

in the Eastern Department ; but that Mr. Hazzard must necessarily be 
put to expense oi" various kinds in {M'ocuring the extensive collection of 
materials he proj)oscs to make. Whereujto.'i, 

Resolved, That to enable Mr. Hazzard to sustain such expense, one 
thousand dollars be advanced to him upon account, returns being made to 
Congress of his expenses in this business. 

From the memorial atid patriotic proceedings thereon, it will be seen 
that much of the time intended to be covered by our work was embraced 
in Mr. Hazzard's plan, extended, as it was, by that part of the resolution 
of the Continental Congress which authorized t!ie collection of such papers 
as related to the '' rise and progress of the present war with Great Bri- 
tain." 

If, then, in 17S8, a most gloomy and oppressive period of the revolution, 
and before tlie proudest and most confident ))atriot could foresee the glo- 
rious issue of our contest ; if before a union of the States was contemplated ; 
if before tiie plastic hand of patriotism had sketched the outline of our 
present constitution of Government ; if wlicn the home resources of the 
struggling States were more than exhausted, and half allowance, from bor- 
rowed means, was meted out to our civil and military defenders : if, under 
all these adverse circumstances, the Continental Congress ordered that to 
be doiie which we now proffer to do, and more, was it presumptuous in us 
to ask for, or imprudent or premature in Congress to pass the act under 
which our contract has been made ? 

Can it come to pass that our labor shall be shortened, or stopped ? Can 
it happen, nay, shall our country be so ill-fated as to look on quietly, 
without an effort, and see, and know, and feel, that tiie records of hep 
eventful story are mouldering in garrets, or perisJiing in badly kept pub- 
lic ofiices, 01- alone exist in the archives of foreign courts ? 

We do not pretend that we can do full justice to this important object ; 
but whatever can be done by patient investigation, diligent research, and 
unwearied industry, we pledge ourselves has been and will be done. 

For the redemption of this pledge we trust the Secretary of State and 
Congress will have ample security when we come to answer that part of 
the inquiry which relates to the progress of the woi'k. 

The next paper submitted was our letter to Mr. Livingston, as follows : 

C. 

Washington, July 18, 1831. 

Sir : In accordance with the statement and promise made to you a few 
days since, permit me to state more specifically the object I have in view, 
in conjunction with Mr. Force, who has long since turned his attention to 
the subject. 

Our work would be correctly styled " A Documentary History of the 
American Revolution, from the commencement of the restrictive measures 
of Great Britain to the adoption of the Constitution of the United States in 
1789," which would embrace a collection of the resolves, addresses, me- 
morials, remonstrances, and other proceedings of the people ; the assem- 
blies and other local authorities of the colonies, relative to the encroachment 
«f the British Government on their rights and privileges, with the corre- 
spondence and proceedings of the Royal Government. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 11 

Also, the public papers of the Congress and of the several States, and 
of the officers and agents of both. 

Lastly, the proceedings of the Congress, the States, &c., in matters re- 
lating to the confederation, up to the adoption of our present constitution 
and organization of the present Government. 

In pursuing the history of those times, it appeared to be divided into 
several distinct periods, designated by certain great events, viz. 

1. The origin of the several colonies, their charters, bills of rights, &c., 
and the public ])aj)ers previous to, and their condition in, 1763. 

2. From 1763 to the Congress of 1765, at New York. 

3. From 1765 to the Congress of 1774, at Piiiladelphia. 

4. From 1774 to the Declaration of Independence. 

5. From 1776 to 1783. 

6. From the Peace to 1789, the organization of our present Federal Go- 
vernment. 

The documents illustrating the action of the States prior to 1774 must 
be collected from various sources, such as the Government records, and in- 
dividual publications and papers in possession of individuals, some of 
which are already promised. 

The list of books and papers herewith exhibited will show that we have 
taken much pains in procuring this valuable material, and the second list 
shows those which we have either ordered, or are accessible. 

From 1774 to 1776, the documents can partly be supplied from the De- 
partment of State. 

From 1776 to 1789, the principal part can be obtained also in that de- 
partment and otliers. 

We djBsire to know^ whether the use of those documents can be granted 
us, under such restrictions and regulations as the Secretary may direct. 

Most respectfully, 

M. ST. CLAIR CLARKE. 
PETER FORCE. 
Hon. Edward Livingston, 

Secretary of Slate, Washington. 

From the above letter, the Secretary will find, as we have before stated, 
that we have bound ourselves to do more than Mr. Hazzard. Let two 
items suffice : 

1st. Our work will contain all the important papers of the Continental 
Congress, embracing not only *' the rise and progress of the war with 
Great Britain," where he must necessarily have stopped, but the termina- 
tion of it, and the whole of their proceedings from 1783 to 1789. 

2d. At that period the public archives of Great Britain could not have 
been resorted to : now they are freely open to our inspection. 

This letter gives tiie outline of the work, and forms what we call the 
restrictive part of our contract. The several periods of time forming the 
termini and subdivision of the subjects, are distinctly set forth ; and the 
material as accurately and extensively described as the limits of a letter 
would permit. 

We know, and have severely, yet we hope patiently, felt the remarks 
which have been made on the want of limitation of material. On this sub- 
ject allow us to make, for ourselves, this solitary remark : If we have had 
ambition enough to project and ofter this work to Congress — if we have 



12 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

been honored by their confidence, and stimulated by their patronage, we 
sincerely hope and trust that vvc have priae enough, as editors and as men, 
neither to violate that confulence nor expend that patronage in gathering 
worthless matter. 

While on this subject of limitation, \vc feel ourselves called upon to state 
the conclusion arrived at by your predecessor, Mr. Livingston. It formed 
the subject of frequent interviews and conversations; and, finally, his ex- 
pressions, as near as can be recollected, were these : '< I cannot see how I 
can limit your woik to any specific number of volumes. The American 
State Papers, by (xales ic Seaton, weie not oiiginally limited ; Sparks was 
not — nor is the work now executing (by F. P. Blair) limited — the act of 
Congiess does not lequire it : but, gentlemen, there is a limit ; your cha- 
racters are at stake, and also, if you print useless matter, you will have 
trouble about your money." 

The answer of Mr. Livingston to the preceding letter is p.s follows : 

Washington, July 20, 1831. 

Dear Sirs : I have examined your proposal for publishing the Docu- 
mentary History of the United States, up to the adoption of the federal 
constitution. 1 think it will be a highly useful work, and that, ^^ith the ma- 
terials within your reach, and your industi'y and intimate knowledge of the 
subject, it will be extremely well executed. 

There is no difiiculty in giving you access to the documents in this de- 
partment, under the usual official restrictions. 

I am, with respect and esteem. 

Your most obedient servant, • 

EDW. LIVINGSTON. 
M. St. Clair Clarke, Esq., and 
Peter Force, Esq. 

From the aforegoing letter, the Secretary will see that permission was 
given to us to use the material in the Department of State ; and although 
we had for years been in the habit of resoi'ting to them, we did not con- 
sider them, until then, as subject to our use by special authority ; and 
this authority was granted after consultation with the President of the 
United States. 

Perhaps we may be considered as exceeding the bounds of an answer 
to the inquii-y of the Secretary, in attempting to show the importance as 
well as the nature and charactei" ol" tlie material ; but we make the venture, 
assured that he will make due allowance for pursuing this subject when we 
say that, in our opinion, it has never been sufficiently pressed upon the 
public, nor are they, as a community, aware of what has been felt and 
done by individual States. 

Nothing can be so essential to history as unvarnished fact ; that alone 
can make it what Cicero has described it to be — 

" Testis temporum, lux verltatis, v'ltae memoria, 
" Magistra vits, nuncia vetustatis." 

Who, that reads the histories of Greece, and Rome, and France, and 
Britain, does not know that there is much fancy and fable in their early 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 13 

t:hronicles, and more of purchased misrepresentation in their patronized 
historians ? And shall we, who have risen into a mighty empire in this 
day of civilization, and feeling the pride and power of liberty, leave no 
beacon lights behind ? AVe cannot think so, and are firmly persuaded that 
the present generation will secure for posterity an imperishable record of 
those times which called forth the enterprise, and wisdom, and valor of 
their ancestors. 

If it has been thought necessary to reprint the documents connected with 
the legislation of Congress from 1789 up to 1832, can it be of less im- 
portance to print, /or the first time, the documents which formed the basis 
of legislation during the whole of the revolutionary Avar, and perpetuate 
the character of the colonies from their earliest settlement ? If it be the 
invariable practice of Congress, and in every State, to ])rint all important 
papers connected with their legislation, is it not interesting and imperative, 
while we can, to bring up the record ab origine? 

This subject, as far back as 1781, attracted the attention of the Legis- 
lature of Pennsylvania. At divers times several of tliC States have felt 
the propriety of accomplishing this work for themselves, and within the 
last few years some of them have pressed upon Congress to do that in 
which we are now engaged, as part of our plan. 

The following documents will illustrate w hat we have stated : 

House or Representatives U. S. 

Februartj 24, 1827. 

Mr. Everett, from the Committee on the Library, on the subject of^ 
procuring from the public offices in England copies of documents relative 
to the history of America, made the following report : 

The Committee on the Library of the House of Representatives, who 
were instructed, by a resolution of the House of the 14th of December last, 
to inquire into the expediency of adopting measures to procure from the 
different public offices in England copies of such papers and documents as 
may be of value in relation to the history of the country, have had that 
subject under consideration, and beg leave to report as follows : 

That the United States of America, in general, and the several States 
that compose the Union, enjoy an advantage possessed by no people of the 
ancient world ; that their entire political duration falls within the period 
of authentic history. Whatever advantageous influence on national cha- 
racter, or gratifying effect on national feeling, can result from authentic 
details of the discovery, the first settlement and eaily progress of our 
beloved country, may consequently be realized by us in a higher degree 
than by any other community, excepting those on the American continent 
similarly situated in this respect with ourselves. The only circumstance 
which diminishes and qualifies this advantage, is the fact that the most 
important sources of our early history are deposited in the archives of 
foreign Governments, over which, of course, the United States have no 
control. Most of the documents illustrating the early history of nearly all 
the United States aie deposited in the various public offices at London ; 
and it has long been the wish of such of our citizens as have devoted them- 
selves to the study of the early history of the country, that measures might 
be adopted to procure from those offices, by permission of the British Go- 
vernment, copies of documents so interesting to the American people. 



14 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

In one or two cases, on special application, this has already been done. 
Lists of documents relative (o tlic early history of North Carolina and 
Georgia have been procuied from tlie public offices in London; and per- 
mission has lately been given, by the principal Secretai'y of State for 
Foreign Affairs in liOndon, to take copies of any documents contained in 
an amj)le list of papers relative to the history of Georgia. Tiie subject 
lias excited considerable interest in different parts of the counlry. The 
Governor of Geoi-gia has made it the subject of a special message to tlie 
Legislature of that State. The Governor of New York, in a late message, 
has alluded to it as a inatter of interest and importance. The Assembly 
and Senate of Rhode Island have adopted resolutions requesting that pro- 
\ision be made by Congicss to effect the object; and tlie Massachusetts 
Historical Society and the American Antiquarian Society have taken 
measures to bring it under the consideration of Congress. 

The resolution of tlie Legislature of Rhode Island, the memorial of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society, and the doings of the American Anti- 
quarian Society, have been referred to this committee, and have received 
their respectful consideration. 

Regarding the object as one of public interest, and feeling a confidence 
that the libeial consent given by the British Government in reference to 
the Geni'gia documents would not be withheld in regard to the documents 
illustrating the eaily history of the other united States, the committee 
deem it highly desirable that the proper measure be taken to this end, and 
therefore i-eport the following resolution : 

Resolved, That, in the o[)inion of this House, it is expedient that proper 
measures be adopted, at the discretion of the President, to jirocuje from 
the public offices in England coj)ies of documents illustrative of the history 
of America: the expense of the same to be defrayed out of the contingent 
fund for foreign intercourse. 

The following letters form part of the proceedings in North Carolina : 

Documents from London, relaiing lo the publication of the history of JVorih 
Carolina — Secretary of State's Office, Raleigh, 

hoT^BON, August 25, 1827. 

Sir: I had the honor to receive your excellency's letter of the 19th 
April last, enclosing a coj)y of a resolution of the General Assembly of 
North Carolina, of February 9th, and lequesting me to apply to the iiritish 
Government for liberty to ])rocure, for the use of the State, from the office 
of the Board of Trade, copies of such documents as relate to the colonial 
history of North Carolina. 

I lost no time in taking the steps necessary to carry into effect the object 
in view, and found, on inquiry, that there were two offices where papers 
relative to colonial transactions were deposited, viz. that of the "Board 
of Trade," and the "State Pafier Office," which is the common place of 
deposite for the archives of the Home, Foreign, and Colonial Departments, 
and is under the superintendence of the Secretary of State for the Home 
Department. 

Application was accordingly made, officially, to the Foreign Office, and 
at the same time to the departments themselves that had the control over 
the papers, and I am happy to say that I met in every quarter the most 
liberal disposition to grant the request, and to afford the necessary facili- 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 15 

ties for procuring tlie copies asked for. Assurances were received of the 
readiness of the Lords of the Board of Trade to accede to the wishes of 
the General Assembly of tlie State. With a view to that object, a copy 
of the indexes to such records as had reference to the province of North 
Carolina was prepared, in order tliat the documents of whicli copies were 
wanted might be pointed out. And their lordships will give directions 
accordingly, whenever they shall have received the necessary informa- 
tion. 

Copies of the letter of the Secretary of the Board, and of the index, 
(Nos. 1 and 2,) arc herewith transmitted. There will be found amongst 
the records of the Board, under tlje heads *' Carolina" and "Properties," 
documents of a date prior to 1729, that relate to North Carolina, and are 
not included in the index. 

I have no doubt that copies of these will also be obtained, but the selec- 
tion will require some time, and must be left to the agent. 

Lord Dudley, Provincial Secretary of State for Foreign x\ffairs, in- 
formed me that directions would be given to the keeper of State papers to 
permit an authorized agent to take copies of any of the documents men- 
tioned in a list which he enclosed. Copies of his letter and of the list 
(Nos. 3 and 4) are also transmitted. 

This communication has been delayed some time, in order to have copies 
taken of the index, lists, and correspondence. They are deposited in the 
archives of this legation, and will not be forwarded as dujdicates unless 
those now sent should miscarry ; as it may be convenient to have them 
here, in case the State should, instead of sending an agent, think it suffi- 
cient to request the Hiinister of the United States, for the time being, at 
this place, to obtain copies of the documents wanted. This 1 mention only 
in case the expense should be an object; for the work will probably be 
more completely executed under the superintendence of a person appointed 
for that special purpose. It must of course be understood tiiat, in any 
case, the expense of clerk hire for taking copies must be defrayed by the 
State. 

I have the honor to be, with great res[)ect, sir, 

Your excellency's most obedient servant, 

ALBERT GALLATIN. 

H. G. BuuTo?r, 

Governor of JSTorth Carolina. 



Copy of a letter of the Secretary of the Board of Trade to Albert Galla- 
tin^ dated Wth July^ received M August ; enclosed in A. Gallatin's 
letter to the Governor of North Carolina^ of 25th August, 1827. 

Office of Committee of Privy Councils for Trade, 

Whitehall, July n, 1827. 
Sir: The Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade having 
had under their consideration the copy of a resolution of the State of North 
Carolina, (enclosed in your note to the right honorable William Huskis* 
son, of the 10th of June,) requesting that application may be made to this 
Board for copies of such papers and documents as relate to the colonial 
history of North Carolina, I am directed to convey to you the assurance 



16 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

of their lordships' readiness to accede to the wishes of the Assembly ; and, 
with a view to this object, 1 have the honor herewith to transmit, by their 
lordships' direction, a copy of such poi'tions of the indexes to the records 
in this office as have reference to the province of North Carolina, in order 
that an opportunity may thereby be affoided to the Assembly of pointing 
out those documents of which they may wish to receive copies; and I am 
to add that, whenever their lordships shall have received the necessary 
information on this head, they will give directions accordingly. 
I have the honor to be, with great resjiect, 

Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 

THOMAS LACK. 



Copy of Lord Dudley'' s letter to Albert Gallatin^ of 2d August^ 1827. 

Foreign Office, August % 1827. 

Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 
11th of June, containing a request, on the part of the Governor of North 
Carolina, that an agent of that State might be allowed to procure copies, 
from the proper offices in London, of such papers as relate to the colonial 
history of North Carolina. 

I lost no time in referring your application to the proper departments, 
and beg leave to accjuaint you, in answer thereto, that directions will be 
given to the keeper of tiie State papers to permit an authorized agent, on 
tije part of the American Government, to have access to and take copies of 
any of the documents mentioned in tiie list vvhicii 1 have the honor here- 
with to enclose. 

Such papers bearing upon the subject as are in the custody of the Board 
of Trade are not included in this list, as I am informed that Mr. Grant, 
the Vice President of that Board, has already communicated directly with 
you upon the subject of them. 

I have the honor to be, with Iiigh consideration. 

Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 

DUDLEY. 



PROCEEDINGS RESPECTING THE APPIICATION OF GEORGIA. 

Mr. Adams to Mr. Rush. 

Department of State, 

Washington, January 26, 1825. 

Sir: I have the honor of enclosing a copy of a letter which I have 
received from Mr. Tattnall, a member of the House of Representatives 
from the State of Georgia, and of requesting the benefit of your aid to the 
accomplishment of the object which it proposes, by application to the British 
Oovernment. 

I am, with great respect, sir. 

Your very humble and obedient servant, 

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 17 

Mr. Mams to Mr. Rash. 

Department of State, 

Washington, February 24, 1825. 

Sir : On the 26tli of last month I transmitted to you the copy of a letter 
from Colonel Tattnall, of the House of Representatives, relative to the 
obtaining of facts connected with the early history of Georgia, and re- 
questing you to procure the information desired, if it could be obtained 
from the public archives of England by a direct application to the British 
Government for it. 

I have now the honor to forward to you, enclosed, the copy of another 
letter which is Just received from the same gentleman, referring particu- 
larly to the minutes of the Trustees of the Proprietary Government of 
Georgia, as containing part of the information desired. 
And am, with great respect, sir. 

Your obedient and humble servant, 

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



Mr. Rush to Mr. Canning. 

London, March 15, 1825. 

The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from 
the United States, has the honor to enclose to Mr. Secretary Canning the 
copy of a letter addressed by Mr. Tattnall, a member of the House of 
Representatives of the United States, to the Secretary of State, stating 
that the Legislature of Georgia having allotted to an individual the task 
of collecting, collating, and publishing documents connected with the history 
of that State, the individual in question has become solicitous of obtaining, 
in aid of the execution of his work, such written and authentic memoranda, 
particularly any that refer to the period between 1732 and 1776, as the 
archives of Great Britain might be found to contain. 

In laying this letter before Mr. Canning, the undersigned has been 
instructed to express, on behalf of his Government, the hope that his Ma- 
jesty's Government may view with favorable disposition the request which 
it contains, and feel able to subserve the literary and historical objects to 
which it looks. 

The undersigned prays Mr. Canning to accept the assurances of his 
perfect consideration. 

RICHARD RUSH. 



Mr. Rush to Mr. Claij. 

London, ^pril 19, 1825. 

I have the honor to enclose the copy of an answer which I have received 
from Mr. Secretary Canning, to my two notes respecting the historical 
documents of Georgia. It will be seen, from this answer, that permission 



18 - [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

will be given to any respectable person whom the minister of the United 
States at this court may name, to inspect the proper archives of the British 
Government, and to make such transcripts fiom them as may he required for 
the purpose in view. 

But as this trust could only be performed by a person to be specially 
employed by me, and as I have no authority, under the general powers 
belonging to this legation, to incur the expense to which such a measure 
would lead, I feel that I can do notliing more at ])resent than make known 
the footing upon which the subject is placed by Mr. Canning. 
It is my Intention to apprise Mr. Tattnall of this result. 
I have the honor to be, 

With very great regard, 

Your obedient servant, 

RICHARD RUSH. 



Mr. Canning to Mr. Bush, 

Foreign Office, .Bpril 12, 1825. 

The undersigned, his Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign 
Affairs, lias tlie honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note which Mr. 
Rush, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United 
States at this Court, addressed to the undersigned on the 15th ultimo, 
requesting, on behalf of his Government^ ti»at some person may be allowed 
to inspect the archives of Great Britain, for the purpose of procuring there- 
from certain documents connected with the history of Georgia. 

The undersigned has to acknowledge, at the same time, tlie receipt of a 
further note from Mr. Rush, upon tlie same subject, under date of the 
31st ultimo. 

In transmitting the enclosed list of correspondence and papers, which 
are to be found in his Majesty's State Paper Office, relative to the history 
of that State, the undersigned has great pleasure in acquainting Mr. Rush 
that if Mr. Rush will name any respectable person to inspect the books men- 
tioned in the enclosed list, from tlieir commencement, in 1735, to the year 
1776, directions will be given for such person to be allowed to make extracts 
from the same for the use of the Legislature of Georgia. 

The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to Mr. 
Rush the assurance of his high consideration. 

GEORGE CANNING. 



List of correspondence and papers in his Majesty^s State Paper Office, rela- 
tive to the State of Georgia. 

1735, August IS, to December 12, 1741. Original letters 
and papers from General Oglethorpe, and the Trustees of 
the Colony, to the Secretaries of State, - - - 1 

1742, January 13, to May 18, 1747. Original correspondence of 
General Oglethorpe, Mr. Verelot, and the Trustees, with 
the Secretaries of State, and their answers, - - 1 



f Doc. No. 38. J 19 

1747, August 18, to August 8, 1751. Letters, memorials, in- 
formations, &c., from the Trustees, and from individuals, to 
the Secretaries of State, respecting Georgia, - - 1 

1761, October 17, to September 12, 1780. Original corre- 
spondence of Sir James Wright, Governor of Georgia, 
and President Habersham, with the Secretaries of State, 
and draughts of answers, . . _ - 8 

1767, January 12, to December 15, 1781. Copies and abstracts 
of correspondence between the Governors and officers of 

the Province of Georgia, and the Secretaries of State, 3 

1768, February 20, to June 27, 1782. Copies of letters of the 
Secretaries of State to the Governors and officers of Geor- 
gia, 1 

Volumes, - - - - - 15 



Special message of his excellency Governor Troup to the Legislature of 

Georgia. 

Executive Department, Georgia, 

Milkdgeville, JVovemher 13, 1826. 

The letter of Joseph Y. Bcvan, with the documents accompanying it, 
will disclose the progress which this gentleman, as the appointed historio- 
grapher, has made in the development of the history of Georgia. 

Our own archives have been explored ; what they furnished, examined ; 
and a summary of the result herewith submitted. The office of the Board of 
Trade and Plantations, in London, is tiie depository of valuable materials 
necessary to the illustration of our early history, the settlement of the coun- 
try, its political changes to the era of the revolution, and tlie events of the 
revolution itself. 

From the correspondence of the American and English ministers, it will 
be seen that the British Government, in a friendly and liberal spirit, has 
opened to the researches of the Government of Geoi-gia that depository. 
An opportunity, therefore, is presented of authorizing an agency for the 
examination and collection of every thing valuable of colonial history there, 
to supply what is deficient here ; and without which an essay to a com- 
plete history of Georgia must fail. The knowledge acquired by Mr. Bevan 
of what we have, and, of course, of what we have not, will perhaps recom- 
mend him to you as a proper person to fill the agency. His honorable charac- 
ter, patriotic zeal, and patient industry, will not make him an exceptionable 
person before the British Government ; and the United States may be 
kind enough to believe that he who is trustworthy for you, may possibly be 
so for them. 

G. M. TROUP. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 

In the Senate, December 7, 1827. 

Resolved, It is desirable and expedient to procure from the office of the 
Colonial Department in England, copies of such papers and documents as 



20 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

relate to the history of this State, beginning with the charter of Charles II,' 
intlieycar 1662. 

Resolved, That his excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby, re- 
quested to take measures foi- procuring a list of all such papers ; also, for 
ascertaining whether it be practicable to obtain copies of the same, and 
what will be the probable amount that may be required to pay for them. 

Repeated 17th December, 1828. 



LoNDois', December 12, 1829. 

Sir : Under an appointment from the Executive Department, of the 
18th July, 1829, as agent for the State of South Carolina, to co-operate 
with Mr. McLane, our minister to the Court of St. James, in procuring 
certain information from the ♦' British Colonial Department," called for 
by resolutions of tlie Legislature, I have made the proper inquiries, and 
shall be prepared to present your excellency with a detailed report upon 
the subject in season for the next session. This could not have been ac- 
complished sooner, from Mr. McLane's not having arrived and been ac- 
credited in this country for some time after I reached it, and from the de- 
lays incidental here to the complicated forms of public business. It would 
have been impossible for him to make the investigation in person ; and al- 
though conducted under his auspices, it was also necessarily so minute and 
laborious as to occupy much time. The result has been liighly satisfac- 
tory in the discovery of many original, curious, and important manuscripts, 
useful to the purpose contemplated, and certainly not to be met with else- 
where than in the public offices of this country, where they have been de- 
posited for safe keeping. Having just concluded the inspection of these, I 
have applied to our minister to ascertain whether permission would be 
granted, to have some or all of them copied also, in case such a measure 
should be resolved upon by the Legislature. The answer to this applica- 
tion will be embodied in tlie further report I propose making. 
I have the honor to be. 

Your excellency's most obedient servant, 

HENRV N. CRUGER. 

His excellency S. D. Miller. 



Charleston, J\*ovember 15, 1830. 

Sir : Referring your excellency to my communication from London, 
under date of the 12th December, 1829, I hastened, on returning home, to 
furnish the report then promised. 

The resolutions of the Legislature, under which I have been acting, re- 
quire that a list of such papers and documents in the office of the Colonial 
Department in England, as relate to the history of this State, begiiming 
with the charter of Charles II, in the year 1662, should be procured ; and 
that it should be ascertained whether it be j)racticable to obtain copies of 
the same, and what will be the probable amount that may be required to 
pay for them. 

The information called for was found to be dispersed in various places 
about London, there being properly no " Office of the Colonial Depart- 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 21 

ment," and was attained after a long correspondence, and thorough know- 
ledge, to be acquired alone by personal investigation. 

The <' Rolle's Chapel Office" is the appropriate depository for charters, 
grants, forms of Government, &c. Here the ciiarter of Charles II, spo- 
ken of, is enrolled, and a copy of it may be obtained on payment of office 
fees. 

In *' His Majesty's State Paper Office" there are seventeen volumes of 
*' Warrant Books," and "Trade Papers," from October 29th, 1663, to 
December llth, 1761, through which are scattered numerous warrants^ 
reports, and official letters, within the scope of the requisition. 

Here also are preserved ten manuscript folio volumes, labelled " South 
Carolina," relating exclusively to this State. Their contents are a com- 
pilation of very miscellaneous materials, and in minute portions, so as to 
admit of being neither detailed nor classified. They consist chiefly of the 
originals, and copies of letters from various persons, including the cor- 
respondence of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of the colony 
with the Government in England, and the instructions and reports thav 
passed between them ; acts, resolutions, memorials, petitions, and ad- 
dresses from the Assembly, and from individuals ; presentations of grand 
juries, and affidavits, and proceedings in courts of justice ; pamphlets and 
newspapers published in Carolina ; talks and treaties with the Indians, 
accounts of their situation and conduct, and plans for their management ; 
constituting altogether a rich and authentic mass of information relating 
to the history and statistics of the colony, its Government, and public af- 
fairs, climate, products, and commerce, from its earliest settlement down 
^* to the period of the revolutionary war, when the contents of the public 
offices in Charleston were swept away, and transferred to their present 
sepulchres. 

In the same office, in London, there are ten other volumes, entitled 
« Plantations General," in manuscript, of the folio size. They commence 
in 1765 and extend to 1774, and contain, among other matters, circular 
orders and instructions from Great Britain for tlie government of the 
American colonies, and of the troops there stationed ; accounts of con- 
gresses, councils, talks, and treaties with the Indians; despatches, reports, 
and journals of officers in the army, and of superintendents of Indian af- 
fairs, giving descriptions of the numbers and condition of the various 
tribes, their wars, habits, and customs, and of the territory in their occu- 
pation ; estimates and details of colonial expenses ,• the correspondence 
between Governors in America and the Lords Commissioners of Trade 
and Plantations, with maps and charts of the country, and papers relative 
to boundary lines, particularly between North and South Carolina an(5 
Georgia ; the whole illustrative of the history both of this and the other 
united States. 

In the <' Privy Council Office" the register of the proceedings of the 
King's council is kept. That part of it which runs from 1663 to 1777, 
has innumerable entries relative to this State. They consist partly of 
reports from the Board of Traae concerning the imports and exports of the 
colony, and transportation thither of manufactures from Normandy, and 
Swiss settlers — of the appointment of Governors, and instructions to them, 
and to the Lords Proprietors, and of the acts of Assembly, and laws of 
the proprietors, annulled and confirmed. Some of the subjects of these 
minutes are, the consideration of the form of Government of the colony — 



22 I" Doc. No. 3G. J 

the complaints of the inhabitants against the Assembly, and against the 
Lords Proprietors — the allotment of land among the latter, and proceed- 
ing to vacate tijcir grant — the taking provisionally the Government into 
the hands of the Crown. Disputes between the Council and Assembly, 
and with Geoigia and the Indians, about boundaries — the settlement and 
dividing of the colony into parishes — its mines, products, and fiscal con- 
cerns — its internal afTairs, and foreign relations. 

Thei'care, besides, several volumes of'* Plantation Books" in the same 
building in which the Privy Council Oftice is situated, containing princi- 
j)ally the commissions and instructions to the successive Governors of the 
different colonics. 

The British museum has, moreover, a collection, in manuscript, of nu- 
merous histories, travels, and other accounts of various parts of America, 
from the date of its discovery to the epoch of our indcpei»dence. 

In ans\^'cr to the inquiry whether copies of these documents would be 
allowed to be taken, a communication was received from the Foreign Office, 
to the effect that copies of those most essential would be granted, but that 
a detailed list of them must first be presented, and that the copies allowed 
must be so made as to admit of tlieir being withdrawn, or curtailed, at the 
discretion of the Secretary of State. Every fiicility, and the most liberal 
conduct in tlie matter, has in fact been met with, and may be relied on for 
the future. 

With regard to the expense probably attendant upon procuring copies 
of the requii'ed papers, it is not possible now to form an estimate. The 
proper coui'se to effect the ulterior object of the resolutions would seem, 
the enjployment of an agent, v\ hose office it should be, in the first instance, 
to ascertain if any, and whicl» ofti»e documents contemplated are in exist- 
ence in the archives at home. This it was not in my power to do, as the 
appointment with which i was honored was not received until the eve of 
my embarkation for Europe on professional business. Upon going to 
England, he could then select from the abundance there, such portions as 
might be necessary to supply deficiencies, and the cost, in addition to his 
compensation, would depend upon the number transcribed. 

To rescue these invaluable materials from oblivion, for the purpose of 
eradicating the errors and filling up the chasms in our records and history, 
is, however, an enterprise well worthy the patronage of an enlightened 
Legislature, and the opportunity now open invites strongly their prompt 
intervention. 

Most lespectfully, 

Your excellency's obedient servant, 

HENRY N. CRUGER. 
His excellency Stephen D. Miller, kc. 



Proceedings of the Stale of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in, 
General Jlssembly, January session, 1827. 

Voted and Resolved, That the Senators and Representatives of this 
State, in tiic Congress of tlie United States, be requested to use their exer- 
tions to procure the passage of an act of Congress, at the present session, 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 23 

providing for copying the documents and papers in the Plantation Office, 
and other public offices in England, relating to the early history of this 
country. 

True copy — witness . 

HENRY BOWEN, 
Secretary of State. 



Memorial of the Representatives of Rhode Island to the Congress of the 
United States of America. 

Respectfully represent, Tristam Burges and Dutee J. Pearce, Represen- 
tatives in Congress, and Providence Plantations, in the same, that, where- 
as the said State did at their January session, A. D. 1827, pass the follow- 
ing resolution, viz. 

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in General Assembltj, 

January session, 1827. 

Voted and Resolved, That the Senators and Representatives of this State, 
in the Congress of the United States, be requested to procure the passage 
of an act of Congress, at the present session, providing for copying the 
documents and papers in the Plantation Office, and other public offices in 
England, relating to the early history of this country ; they, the said Rep- 
resentatives, do, therefore, respectfully request that such a law may be 
passed. 

TRISTAM BURGES. 



Memorial of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, on the sulject of procur- 
ing copies of documents from the public offices. 

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in 

Congress assembled : 

The memorial of the undersigned, a committee of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, respectfully represents : 

That, for thirty -five years past, the Massachusetts Historical Society 
has been assiduously engaged in the collection and preservation of scattered 
and decaying manuscript and printed materials, tending to elucidate the 
history of our country, and especially of New England, as most within our 
opportunity of acquirement; that ample testimony of the activity of this 
Society is borne by the printed volumes, twenty-one in number, of which 
the expense has been almost entirely defrayed by its members ; that these 
voluntary labors are still continued with the design of perpetuating, as far 
as possible, the apparatus and muniments necessary for our future historians; 
that these labors are frequently interrupted, as must be known to all others 
similarly engaged, by the failure, occasionally, of some single fact, breaking 
the continuity of their chain of induction or narrative, and discouraging the 
most patient efforts ; that this failure is the consequence of a deficiency of 
documents, which on our side of the ocean it is impossible to supply; and 



24 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 



of which no supply can probably be obtained without the intervention of 
the National Government. 

To obtain this intervention, without which the complete history of our 
iiatioii can never be written, this Society has judged it proper to address 
this memorial, sincerely believing that tiic subject deserves the considera- 
tion of the Representatives of the Union, considered either in relation to the 
importance of such a history, or in relation to the exhilarating sentiment 
which every individual feels, on reflection that our country will boast what 
so few others can, that its histoiy, from the earliest discovery and feeblest 
settlement, is equally free from the uncertainty of tradition and the degra- 
dation of fable; or in relation to the principle of national honor, which 
might be mortified by a taunting remark, that when the otiier Govern- 
ments have liberally contributed from their treasures to the means of pre- 
serving the integrity of their annals, our own has made no attempt to obtain 
the chief documentary evidence of its history, even at the trifling expense 
of transcribing it Irom fair records in foreign countries. 

Believing tliat the present peaceful state of the world, and the liberal 
spirit of encouraging all improvement, by w hich the Government of Great 
Biitain appears to be actuated, make this a j)eriod most propitious for 
obtaining their object, the members of this Society res])ectfully ask leave 
to invite the attention of Congress to the following facts, in way of example, 
which, though for bievity aj)plying principally to New England, are, in 
no small degree, applicable to most of the other States. 

In consequence of our colonial dependence, Jiearly all the documents 
relative to trade, both import and export, to manufactures, population, 
and to statistics generally, to many interesting laws and projects of laws, 
a negative on which was, in most cases, reserved to the King in council, 
with all correspondence, official or private, by which the administration 
of our affairs was regulated in England, are lodged in the office of the 
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. 

As the celebrated Governor Winthrop, of Connecticut, one of the founders 
of the Royal Society of London, under whose patronage it was designed 
by his coadjutors, until prevented by the King's command, to have trans- 
planted themselves, in part, to America, resided in New England the larger 
portion of his life, and was a pi'incipal contributor to several of its early 
volumes of transactions, and was requested, among other things, to furnish 
a history of the country, which his father had begun, especially of its native 
inhabitants, its minerals, vegetables, and animals, it is highly probable 
that not a few interesting memoirs legarding the eaily affairs of the country 
must be deposited in the archives of that honorable Society. 

^Ve may be assured, from the regular employment of ships of war, to 
carry iiito effect the navigation and revenue laws, and for the protection 
of trade against piracy, and, still more, from the frequent junction of 
royal and provincial troops and vessels in expeditions against the Indians, 
against the French, in Nova Scotia and Canada, and against the same 
nations, or the Spaniai'ds, in the West Indies, that many valuable materials 
w^ould reward the search among files of the Army and Navy Board. 

Though most of the petitions and other j)apers of a general, ])ublic nature, 
relating to our country, addressed to the King, or either House of Parlia- 
ment, were printed in the mother countiy or here, yet the evidence and col- 
lateral arguments adverse to, or in support of such measures, and especially 
those statements of facts, used as the basis of the navigation laws, that 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 25 

regulated and controlled the whole productive industry of the colonies, 
must chiefly be looked for in the files of the House of Commons. 

From the course of proceeding in many most important legal questions, 
appealed from tribunals here to the King in council, particularly those 
relative to boundaries and riglits under land jiatents, atj examination of 
bureaux originally connected with the Privy Council Chamber becomes 
highly desirable. 

To remarks which will naturally suggest themselves to your honorable 
body, from the above enumeration, which might easily be far extended, by 
reference to many sources of information of a more ])rivate kind, as records 
of patentees and proprietors, and archives of colonial agents, your memo- 
rialists ai-e confident, to add any arguments to exhibit or enforce the import- 
ance of their ap[)lication, would seem either disi-espectful or unnecessary. 

It is considered that the Government of Great Britain will readily ac- 
cord permission to have most of the documents which may be desirable to 
us, and easily found in the jjlaces designated, copied at the expense of the 
United States. Any objections that might have formerly arisen from the 
delicacy required in giving to the world papers involving the character 
and conduct of actors distinguished on one side or the other in the factions, 
changes, or troubles of the time of Charles I, of the commonwealth of 
Charles II, of James II, and of William and Mary, have obviously ceased. 
The publication by Birch of the admirable collection called Thurloe's State 
Papers, and, by many other persons, of innumerable essays on the public 
and private characters of the mostpi'ominent men of those periods, of which 
many have been countenanced by patrons of literature among the most emi- 
nent statesmen of Great Britain, indisputably prove that the time has ar- 
rived when its Government and people can dispassionately view the actions 
of ancestors, and willingly submit their correct and erroneous opinions, their 
virtues and their faults, to the impartial judgment of history. Well may 
these remarks, in the opinion of your memorialists, be applied to the trans- 
actiotis in which our country is in any degree singly concerned, for the whole 
period of its existence to the peace of 1763. 

Subsequently to that important epoch, a regard to private feelings and 
private interests may, perhaps, cause the Government of Great Britain to 
object to an indiscnninate examination of papers in its public offices, as 
prematuie, at least, if not inexpedient, and the people of our country may 
well hesitate to urge it. Yet it is confidently believed that all documents 
strictly considered public, and perhaps many even private ones, after the 
erasure of a name, relating to our country, or any part of it, of a date prior 
to the dissolution of our connexion with the niother country, may, on proper 
application, be placed within the reach of a responsible agent of our Na- 
tional Government. 

Your memorialists, therefore, with a view to attain an object so import- 
ant to the nation, respectfully request that application be made to the 
Government of Great Britain, in such way as may seem most likely to 
effect its purpose, for permission to make the examination in the foregoing 
pages alluded to, and any others of similar character that may be thought 
advisable and interesting to the great community of good letters, under 
such restrictions, cautions, and general control, as to that Government may 
seem expedietit ; and that if such application be successful, and such permis- 
sion be granted, a competent agent be authorized by our own Govern- 
3 



26 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

ment to designate such papers as should be copied, and to forward trans- 
cripts of them to such ])laceof deposite as may by Congress be directed^ 
there to he preserved, for the use of citizens ot these United States. 
All of which is respectfullv submitted by 

JOHN DAVIS, 
JAMES SAVAGE, 
JAMES BOWDOIN, 
Committee of the Massachusetts Historical Societij. 



Froceedings of the American Antiquarian Society. 

At a meeting of the American Antiijuarian Society, holden at Worcester, 
in the county of Worcestej", and commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Wed- 
nesday, the i24th of January, A. D. 1827, 

Voted, That the Delegation of this State in the Congress of the United 
States he recpicsted to use their exertions to procure the passage of an act of 
Congress, at the jjiesent session, to provide for copying the papers and 
documents in the Plantation and other offices, in England, relating to the 
early history of this country. 

Attest : REJOICE NEWTON, 

Recording Secretary. 



Cambridge, January 10, 1827. 

My Dear Sir : Your letter on the subject of the Library of the 
House of Representatives was duly leceived. However grateful it was, 
as it showed the coiifulence you repose in me for any service that I may 
render you, it w as peculiary gratifying, as it gave me the first notice of any 
contemplated measures to obtain copies of papers in the Plantation Office 
and other offices, in England. I hope the Committee on the Library will 
judge it expedient to adopt measures for that purpose. It is difficult to 
say what documents in tlie Plantation Office may not be illustrative of the 
history of this counti'y. From the copious use made of them by Chalmers in 
compiling the " Political Annals of the United Colonies," we may readily 
see how material they aie tothe elucidation of our history. When the first book 
of that work was j)ublished, the author said in the preface that the second 
book was in great forwardness, and wouh' be speedily publisJied ; but al- 
hough near half a century has since elapsed, it has not made its appear-, 
ance. Tiie *' political" reasons for composing that work ceasing to ope- 
rate soon after the [)ublication of the first book, by the dissolution of the 
relation between the parent counti-y and the colonies, we need be at no loss 
to judge wiiy the second book ne\er was, and why it never will be, published 
in England. What an invaluable treasure to us were the MSS. for that 
book, bi-inging the work down from the revolution of William and Mary to 
the peace of 1763, deposited in your Library at Washington ! 

Instead, my dear sir. of presuming to indicate the several classes or 
descriptions of papers most wanted, I will simply mention the general 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 2T 

titles of such collections of them as, we are sure, may be found in the 
English offices, and, I apprehend, exclusively in the Plantation Office. 
Wishing you success, most cordially, in this great and good design, 
I am, dear sir. 

Your friend and obedient servant, 

A. HOLMES. 

Journals in Plantation Office, 6 vols, (at least.) 

Virginia papers, 76 b., 3 vols, (at least.) 

Virginia entries. 

New England papers, 5 bundles and S vols., (at least,) bound, above; 

1,000 pages. 
Old New England entries, 3 vols, (at least.)] 
Ordinances of New England, abridged. 
Records of New England. 
Council-Book of Massachusetts. 
Bundle of Maryland papers. 
Couticil-Book of Maryland. 
New York entries, 2 vols. 
New York papers. No. 33, (at least.) 
New Hampshire entries. 

Rhode Island, copy of the Indian deed of, among the N. E. papers., 
Carolina entries. 
New Jersey papers. 
Pennsylvania papers. 



The answer to the second branch of inquiry on the first point is so inti- 
mately blended with the second point, that we beg leave to refer it thereto, 
and embrace them both in one answer; the reply, if given at length, would 
be tedious, indeed. Taking due care, therefore, to be as satisfactory as 
possible, we shall confine ourselves within as narrow limits as we can. 

About twelve years ago the plan of our work was originally fixed upon^. 
It began by the purchase and critical examination of books, pamphlets^ 
newspapers, and early periodical publications, containing or referring to 
documents, correspondence, speeches, parliamentary and legislative pro- 
ceedings, &c. &c. Of these a large and very valuable collection has been 
made, containing many papers not elsewhere to be found. During great 
part of the time our progress was necessarily slow. For the last five 
years, Mr. Force, excepting a short time in each year, expended on his 
Annual Register, has been devoted to tiiis work, to the exclusion of every 
other pursuit. 

Since the passage of the act, ten out of the " Old Thirteen States" have 
been visited, and the other three are now undergoing examination. 

In Georgia, a thorough examination has been made, not only of the State 
records and papers, but also of the collection of Joseph Y. Bevan, deceased 5: 
all of tiie latter have been copied for us, and the whole collection from the 
former is already copied, or designated for copying. 

In New Hampshire, the whole archives have been examined, and the 
papers collected have been entirely copied ; the papers of the Historical 
Society and Portsmouth Athcnjeum have been selected and copied, includ- 
ing a large and interesting collection of Sullivan's letters. 



38 L l>oc. No. 36. ] 

In Soutl) Carolina, tlic public offices at Charleston were examined, and 
at Columbia we ceased to work, to give time to recover, if possible, the 
legislative records from 1776 to 1782, which are missing. 

In North Carolina, we examined a great deal of the material, and had 
some copying done. I'art of her records are lost, especially the proceed- 
ings in 1765, connected with the stamp act. Wc know where the} are in 
Kngland, and shall procure tiiein. 

In Virginia, we examined enough to know that her whole legislative 
liistory jjrioi- to 1776 is lost, and can only be partially supplied by her 
'•Statutes at largo" and the British otiices. 

In all the other States visited, we ascertained the state of the records and 
papers, and shall know the condition of all before you make your report. 

In the Dejjartment of State, we may venture to say, we, have handled 
every paper connected with the Continental Congress, and the accompany- 
ing list will show the material copied, amounting to more than thirty 
thousand manuscript pages. 

The amount copied in Georgia, New Hampshire, and elsewhere, we think, 
will add about twenty thousand pages more. 

The papers connected with the proceedings from 1774 to 1776, which 
we Iiave sent for to England, as is known to the Secretary, may amount 
to five thousand ; and if to this we add the material collected from old pe- 
riodicals, &.r., the whole might reach sixty thousand manuscript pages. 
This, however, by no means comprehends the whole material *' already 
secured." 

The unpublished colicciion of Dr. Belknap, late of Massachusetts ; the 
papers of General Hazzaid, of Pennsylvania; of Trumbull, of Connecti- 
cut; of Davie, of North Carolina; and many others, have been placed at 
our disposal for selection and copying. 

In truth, sir, every State and public institution which we have visited, 
has, through the Governors, or other jiubiic ofticers, thrown open their 
archives, rejoicing to know that tiie United States had begun a work which 
none of tliem could individually do. Thus we may venture to say that 
nothing is wanting but the time to collect, and have the copying done. 

Those papers, therefore, " expected to be obtained," strictly speaking, 
are the material in England, Fiance, Holland, Spain, Cuba, and Canada, 
"We know the dis])osition manifested by England and France, and have no 
doubt access will be gianted by the others, and permission to make copies 
of w hatever may be deemed neces'-ary. 

We come now to the inquiry as to the progress made in the arrangement. 

As we shall print the whole chronologically, the Secretary will at once 
perceive that whatever is collected wants only the simple operation of 
comparison with what has already been done, putting it into proper place, 
and then ail is ready for publication. 

We have now material enough for several volumes, but frequently there 
is a hiatus which requires much time and labor to supply — truly ♦' hie labor, 
hoc opus est." 

Our task would have been an easy one if we had contented ourselves with 
printing the material just as we find it ; but, pledged, as we are, to the 
"Government, no pains nor expense have been or shall be spared to make 
-the collection complete. 

We shall, m a very short time, begin to print the first volume of the 
Iborth series, and deliver it early in the next session of^Congress. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 29 

The third point is as to the number of volumes which will be required 1o» 
complete the work, and the time when the whole will be ready for delivery* 

We have said before, and now repeat, that, if possible, we will bring the 
whole within twenty volumes, and now agree to limit ourselves to that num- 
ber. It will then remain with Congress to say if, after having printed that 
number, there should still be some papers left, whether we shall go on or not. 

The Secretary, and all who will reflect upon the nature of the work^ 
must irresistibly come to the conclusion that precision in extent is impos- 
sible ; nay, sir, the requisition is destruction. 

Who can lay his finger on the records of the South, and say to us^ 
*' Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther ?*' 

Who will put forth his hand, and blot out the deeds of Calvert and of Penn? 

Who in the North would be satisfied with a mutilated monument of 
revolutionary glory, or stint the record of pilgrim purity and patience? 

As to the time required to complete the whole, our answer must also be 
uncertain. Perhaps ten years would not be too long time to give ourselves 
to complete this important work. It may be possibly done in less. 

The fourth point of inquiry is, the estimate of tlie money necessary ta 
complete the contract. 

To these we are able to give a precise answer. Our contract is for 
fifteen hundred copies ; taking twenty volumes, of eight hundred pages^ 
folio, each, the whole sum would be four hundred and eight thousand dollars.. 
This is a large sum, but v^'e trust we shall siiow that the cost is not dis- 
proportioned to the extent of the work, in comparison with other printing 
done for the United States, leaving out of view altogether the difficulties to 
be surmounted, and the extraordinary expenses to be incurred by the pub- 
lishers. 

The Secretary will observe that there was an alternate in the act as ta 
the cost. 

By the calculations of Mr. Stubbs, the agent of the department, on© 
work cost 82 57i per volume, octavo ; the other was estimated at ^^2 20 ; 
the lower cost being taken by the Secretary as the standard of our allow- 
ance. All which will more fully appear by the following representatioii 
made to the Attorney General : 



WAiHiNGTON, JtforcA21, 183S.> 

Sir: By an act of Congress approved on the 2d March, 1833, the Sec- 
retary of State was authorized (on the memorial of M. St. Clair Clarke and 
Peter Force ) to contract with said Clarke and Force for the publication of 
<'The Documentary History of the American Revolution, to be printed in 
octavo or folio, as may be agreed upon, provided that the rate of expense shall 
not exceed the actual cost per volume of the Diplomatic Correspondence now 
printing, or heretofore printed, under the direction of the Secretary of 
State, &c," as will more fully appear by the terms of the act herewith 
transmitted. 

In point of fact, there have been two distinct publications of the Diplo- 
matic Correspondence : one under the editorial direction of Mr. Sparks, 
the other without any particular editor; which last is the one "now print- 
ing." In both these works all the materials have been furnished from the 
Department of State, at the expense and on the responsibility of the Go- 
vernment. 



30 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

In the former, Mr. Sparks received Iiis conii)ensation as editor, and the 
Government furnished tlie materials. In the latter publication there has 
been another editor, and the " actual cost'* has been in some degree dimin- 
ished. 

In the contemplated publication by the subscribers, they are to be at the 
entire expense of collecting, arranging, and editing the great mass of ma- 
terial employed. 

Their proposal also embraces a copious index to each volume, of which 
both the other rvorks referred to are destitute, and tiie cost of the work must 
of course be j)roportionally enhanced. 

In arranging the terms of the contract with the Secretary of State, a 
iloubt has occui red to his mind whether he is not precluded from allowing 
any other or higher price for our "' work" than the minimum price fixed 
by Congress — whether that should be the cost of the work *' now print- 
ing" or '' heretofore printed," (being Sparks's edition.) 

Our opinion is that he may exercise his discretion under the circumstan- 
ces, so as to allow a price not exceeding the actual cost, in proportion, of 
Mr. Sparks's ])ublication, and not falling short, in his allowance, of the 
cost of the Diplomatic Coi'resj)ondence <' now printing." 

There is a small difference in the cost of the two woi'ks, Sparks's edi- 
tion being the highest. This difference we desire to be allow cd, inasmuch 
as in our work we advance the funds and incur the responsibility ; in the 
others, the Government did so. 

Mr. Livingston has been so good as to suggest the propriety of asking 
your opinion on this question, and has expressed his willingness to be 
guided by it. 

With his sanction, then, as will appear by his within approval, we beg 
leave to submit this question to you, and to inquire whether, under the act 
of Congress in question, the Secretary of State may not lawfully contract 
with us for our '' work" at the same rate which the first series of the Di- 
plomatic Corresj)ondence, edited by Mr. Sparks, cost. 

A professional friend has suggested to us to request your attention to the 
language of the Supreme Court of the United States in the first volume of 
Peters's Reports, pages 565, 566, on the subject of commissions allowed to 
executors, &c. 

All which is most respectfully submitted to you, by your obedient ser- 
vants 

M. ST. CLAIR CLARKE. 
PETER FORCE. 

KoGER B. Taney, Esq. 

Morney General. 

I approve of the above statement. 

EDW. LIVINGSTON. 

The language of the law leaves the question in se much doubt, that I 
think it most advisable not to exceed the minimum price. 

R. B. TANEY. 

March 23, 1833. 

Thus then our allowance was fixed at S2 20 per octavo volume. The 
Secretary required of us copious indexes, and, as there was none in either 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 31 

of the works referred to in tlie act, he allowed us eleven cents per volume 
for an index, taking, as his estimate, the cost of an index for the " American 
State Papers,'** printing by Gales & Scaton, amounting to S2 31 per 
octavo volume, or four mills and a quarter })er page. 

Having determined, as the act authorized him, that the edition should 
be folio, and that each page should contain four times tlie amount of mat- 
ter, on precisely the same type, the allowance per page was seventeen 
mills. 

From papers in the Department of State, the Secretary will find that 
the printing of the work taken as the standard of allowance was paid for 
at Congress prices, and that, before the first account w^as approved of, the 
bill was referred to the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of 
Representatives, upon whose corrections the account was adjusted, and all 
accounts subsequently paid. 

Of what items, then, is our allowance composed ? Printing at Congress 
prices ; binding at the same ; the actual cost of copying in the Department 
of State, with the item of cost of indexes : not one cent is allowed, as in 
Sparks's case, for editorial labor. 

We are obliged to seek for the material, and incur the heavy expenses 
of travel, &c. For the standard work, it was at hand and furnished. 

We have to advance large sums of money in ])rocuring the material; 
for the other, these advances were made by the department. 

We feel the deep anxiety and responsibility of editors ; in the other case, 
there was none. 

From this explanation, we think it will appear that the work is doing as 
cheaply as it could be required ; and the appropriations being extended 
through many years, cannot be burdensome to the public treasury. 

These remarks and references have extended far beyond what we at first 
contemplated. As we progressed, they appeared to be called for. We 
desire to stand " rectus in curia," and especially that our statements and 
views shall be such as to meet the approbation of the honorable Secretary 
of State, and enable him satisfactorily to discharge his duty in making his 
report to the Congress of the United States. 

With great respect, we have the honor to subscribe ourselves your most 
obedient, humble servants, 

M. ST. CLAIR CLARKE. 
PETER FORCE. 

Washington, October 10, 1834. 



The following letters from the Secretary of State, Secretary of War, 
and Attorney General, were given, at our request, previous to our ex- 
amination of the several States. The letter of Mr. Adams was written 
two years before. 

Department of State, 

Washington, April 9, 1833. 
Gentlemen : When I first heard of your intention to publish the Do- 
cumentary History of the United States, I was deeply impressed with its 
importance. Abetter acquaintance with your plan, and more mature re-» 



32 . [ Doc. No. -36. J 

flection on its utility, enable me now to add that I think it a most useful 
work lor establishing the history of our country on its true basis. Al- 
ready the fugitive documents relating to our colonial state, and to the 
interesting struggle for our independence, begin to disappear. The most 
careless observer must have remarked how soon papers in the hands of 
every one, while the important events to which they relate are recent — 
how soon they vanish from the public eye, and \\ ith what difficulty, af- 
ter the lapse of only a few years, they can be discovered. And even 
documents which, from their nature, seem to promise a more durable 
existence, scarcely form an exception. Carelessness and conflagrations, 
loss by frequent removals and natural decay, all concur to prevent the 
archives of the country from being a source to which the historian can 
apply for authentic information, with any certain hope of success. The 
want of a general place of deposite for historical documents, and the 
strange refusal of Congress to provide the means of arranging and index- 
ing those which exist in the archives of the State Department, add to 
the difficulty, and enhance the value of your undertaking. 

Although much has been lost, there is no doubt that there still are 
among the records of the Atlantic States, and in the hands of individuals, 
most precious materials for the history of the country, and the biography 
of its most distinguished citizens, which, unless collected now, may be 
irretrievably lost. • 

The press is the only means of making them imperishable. Once 
embodied in a work like that which you contemplate, they will be dis- 
persed among so many private libraries and public institutions as to bid 
defiance to accident. The magazine of facts will forever be accessible, 
and the means of acquiring a true knowledge of the origin, nature, and 
operations of our Government will be open to our posterity at the remote 
period to which all our hopes and prayers carry its existence. 

It is not only to the gratification of the pride or curiosity of our poste- 
rity (laudable as they are) that your collection is to minister. It will 
serve a higher purpose. Fifty years have not yet elapsed since the for- 
mation of our National Government, and already the great principles on 
which it was founded are forgotten, or misrepresented, or unknown. 
Facts are distorted to suit party purposes, and an honest, intelligent peo- 
ple are deceived, because the means of correcting error are not within 
their reach. But place in their hands the documentary evidence of 
what we were in our colonial state ; of the union by which we achieved 
our independence ; of the defect of that system ; of the means by which 
the admirable structure of our constitution was raised. Let them read, 
not in the distorted, turgid language of party writers of the present day, 
but in the lucid arguments of the sages who deliberated on the formation, 
the adoption, and the first movements of the Government ; let them draw 
from that source, fact, and truth, and sound argument, and they can never 
be made the instruments of political parties, or designing demagogues. 

Go on, then, gentlemen, with your important work ; hasten its publi- 
cation ; every volume that appears will destroy some error, or establish 
some political truth. 

You greatly overrate the value of, or necessity for, my recommendation. 
J^o State will refuse to you the examination of its records, and there are 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 3a 

few individuals who will not gladly communicate to you such family pa- 
pers as show the part their ancestors acted in the past times which your 
work is intended to illustrate. 

I am, with respect, 

Your most obedient servant, 

EDW. LIVINGSTON. 
M. St. Clair Clarke, Esq. and P. Force, Esq. 



Copy of a letter from Lewis Cass to M. St. Clair Clarke. 

Washington, April 18, 1833. 

Sir: I have received your letter of the 13th instant, and have read 
with much satisfaction the accompanying plan upon which you and Mr, 
Force propose to publish a Documentary History of the United States. 

Such a compilation is an object interesting to our country, and if exe- 
cuted, as I have no doubt it will be, with judgment and fidelity, will be 
a most valuable repository — a repository which no other nation possesses, 
containing the most authentic materials for history from the earliest period 
of our settlement, and exhibiting the whole course of our Governments, 
Colonial, State, and Federal, together with those contemporaneous opin- 
ions, statements, and expositions which are so necessary to a full com- 
prehension of the subject, and which yet, in other countries, so seldom 
meet the public eye. Unless these are soon collected, and placed in safe- 
ty by the imperishable power of the press, they will be irretrievably lost, 
and with them will be lost the true knowledge of many of the most event- 
ful scenes of our history. These documents are now buried in the public 
archives, or dispersed among various individuals through the country. 
Their compilation will render them accessible to all, and no one can be 
indifferent to the success of a work which promises so many lessons of 
wisdom derived from the experience of the past, and to be applied to the 
objects of the future. 

Very respectfully, 

I have the honor to be, 

Your most obedient servant, 

LEW. CASS. 

M. St. Clair Clarke, Esq. 

Milledgeville, Georgia. 



Copy of a letter from R. B. Taney to M. St. Clair Clarke. 

Washington, April 15, 1833. 
Dear Sir : The Documentary History of the United States, in which 
you are engaged, is a work so much to be desired, that I presume you 
will experience no difficulty in obtaining access to any papers in public 
offices, or in the hands of individuals, which may enable you to accom- 
plish your undertaking in the most perfect manner. Every citizen will 
take an interest in preserving the documents you propose to collect ; and 



34 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

I take pleasure in expressing my cordial approbation of your plan, and 
will readily afford you any aid in my power to promote its successful 
execution. 

I am, dear sir, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

R.B.TANEY. 



Extract from a letter of John Quincy Adams to Mattheio St. Clair Clarke, 

Washington. 

Quincy, August 17, 1831. 
Dear Sir: **** I should hope that octavo is the form upon which 
you will fix, with Mr. Force, for the collection of what once were called 
the prior documents, and for those contained in the Remembrancer, with 
others of the same character, down to the adoption of the constitution of 
the United States. The men of the present age are under a sacred obli- 
gation, both to that which has passed, and that w^hich is to come, to preserve 
the recorded virtues of their forefathers for the instruction and emulation 
of their posterity ; nor shall they be unremembered who assume upon 
themselves to perform this duty for their contemporaries. Receive, with 
Mr. Force, my thanks for engaging in the enterprise, and my best wishes 
that you may both live to w'itness its accomplishment, and to be duly re- 
warded for it. 

With much respect, I am, dear sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Q. ADAMS. 



The following is part of the material copied in the Department of State 

Letters A, 1777 to 1789. 

B, 1777 to 1778. 

1779 to 1781. 
1782 to 1789. 

C, December 16, 1775, to December 18, 1780. 
1781 to 1789. 

D, 1777 to 1780. 
1781 to 1789. 

E, October, 1776, to 25th December, 1789. 

F, 1777 to 1789. 

G, 1777 to 1780. 

H, January 4, 1777, to February 16, 1780. 

1780 to 1789. 

K, December 7, 1776, to May 25, 1789. 
L, January 26, 1778, to August 13, 1786. 
M, 1777 to 1789. 
P, 1777 to 1789. 
R, 1777 to 1789. 
S, 1782 to 1789. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 35 

T, 1777 to 1789. 

W,1777 to 1789. 

U, V, Y, Z, 1777 to 1789. 
Letters, New Hampshire, 1775 to 1787. 

Massachusetts, December 30, 1776, to September, 1781. 

Rhode Island, 1777 to 1787. 

Connecticut, 1777 to 1789. 

New York, 1777 to 1788. 

New Jersey, February 3, 1777, to 1788. 

Pennsylvania, 1777 to 1789. 

Delaware, 1777 to 1789. 

Maryland, 1777 to 1789. 

Virginia, 1775 to 1789. 

North Carolina, 1777 to 1789. 

South Carolina, 1777 to 1778. 

Georgia, 1777 to 1787. 
Memorials, A, 1777 to — . 
Petitions, B. 
Memorials, B. 
Memorials, D. 

Reports of Committees on Post Office, 1776 to 1788. 
on App. of Ind. W. 
1775-1784. Washington's letters. 

Vol. 1, July, 1775, to May, 1776. 

2, June 3, 1776, to September 18, 1776. 
3,4, September 19, 1776, to August 27, 1777. 

5, August 28, 1777, to May 1, 1778. 

6, May to December, 1778. 

7, December 16, 1778, to September 11, 1779. 

8, September 13, 1779, to July 10, 1780. 

9, July, 1780, to February, 1781. 

10, February 26, 1781, to September 16, 1782. 

11, October, 1782, to January, 1784. 
Gates's letters, July, 1775, to June, 1778. 

June 21, 1778, to August, 1782. 
Schuyler's letters, 1,2, 3, January 28, 1775, to June 12, 

1785. 
Arnold, 

Starke, I j^^^ ^^ j^gj^ 

Armstrong, 
Sterling, 

Heath, July 21, 1775, to July 19, 1782. 
Clinton, 1 

Nicora ^^^'^^ ^^ ^^^^• 

Harmar, J 

Greene, 1, July 8, 1776, to March 10, 1781. 

2, March, 1781, to August, 1785. 
Knox, 1, April, 1785, to October, 1786. 

2, October 5, 1786, to September 29, 1787. 

3, November, 1787, to July, 1788. 



86 f Doc. No. 36. J 

?"c^n^^' ] March 17, 1776, to November 9, 1779. 
J. Sullivan, ) 

Canada Papers, ) ^-,yg j^^g 

Sullivan's Expedition, &c. \ ' 

Moultrie, April, 1778, to February, 1782. 

Lincoln, March, 1777, to August, 1789. 

Wooster, July, 1775, to December, 1776. 

Montgomery, October, 1775, to January, 1776. 

Charles Lee, January, 1776, to October, 1780. 

McUougal, January, 1776, to March, 1781. 

Wayne, February, 1776, to August, 1789. 

St. Clair, January, 1776, to January, 1783. 

Mifflin, November, 1776, to January, 1780. 

Parsons, December, 1777, to August, 1779. 

Spencer, November, 1777, to December, 1777. 

Steuben, December, 1777, to August, 1789. 

De Kalb, August, 1777, to September, 1779. 

Armand, December, 1777, to January, 1786. 

Smallwood, January, 1778, to June, 1782. 

Pulaski, March, 1778, to August, 1779. 

Dupatail, December, 1778, to November, 1781. 

D'Estaing's letters, July, 1778, to September, 1778. 

Ethan Allen, March, 1781. 

Letters and Reports of Committees, 1775 to 1789. 

Reports, Board of War, 1, 1776 to 1778. 

2, April, 1778, to December, 1779. 

3, 1779. 

December, 1779, to Dec, 1780. 

March to June, 1781. 
Lincoln, Secretary of War, November 26, 1781, to 1783. 

June, 1783, to November, 1783. 
Letters of Board of War, 1780, 1781. 
Reports of Board of War, vol. 6, 1781. 

Feb. 27, 1777, to Jan. 6, 1788. 

Nov. 18, 1780, to Aug. 13, 1783. 
Letters from States, 1775, 1776. 
alphabetical, 1775, 1776. 
Letters from Laurens, Pierce, Palfrey, Blaine, 1778 to 1783. 
Committee to treat with Six Nations of Indians, 1775. 
Letters from Secret Committee, 1776. 
Committee at Philadelphia, 1776, 1777. 
Letters from Paul Jones, Robert Morris, &c. 1776. 
Committee at head quarters, 1780. 
Reports and letters of Robert Morris, 3 vols. 1781-'4. 
H. Laurens, President, 2 vols. Nov., 1777, to Dec. 8, 1778. 
J. Jay and S. Huntington, Dec. 11, 1778, to May 19, 1780. 
S. Huntington, May 19, 1780, to May 20, 1781. 
Presidents of Congress, 1781 to 1787. 
Reports, Board of Treasury, 1776, 1777. 

1778. 
1779. 
1780. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 37 

Reports, Board of Treasury — 

Jan. 2, 1781, to September 13, 1781. 
Feb. 14, 1785, to December 16, 1786. ■ 
May 14, 1785, to September 11, 1788. 

Letters of Board of Treasury, 1785 to 1788. 

Reports of Treasury on App. of individuals, A to J. 

Reports of tbe Committee. 

Reports of Committees relating to Congress. 

Carleton, relative to Captain Huddy. 

Reports of Committees, 1781 to 1787. 

Reports of Treasury on App. of States, &c. 1784 to 1789. 

Estimates of receipts, expenditures, and taxes, &c. from 

1781 to 1787. 

Letters and Reports of Committees, 1775 to 1779. 

Pay, &c. of army, August 1, 1780, to December 31, 1780. 

Charles Thompson's letter-book A, November 20, 1779, 

to October 7, 1785. 

Memorials and petitions, A to G, 1775, 1776. 

Hto W,1775, 1776. 

Reports of Committees, A, C. 

on App. of individuals, H to L. 



Washington, December 22, 1834. 

Sir : In compliance with a suggestion made in your letter of the 29th 
of August last, we have the honor to submit an additional report con- 
cerning the Documentary History of the American Revolution. 

Of the third and fourth points mentioned in that letter, we have nothing 
now to add to what is stated in our communication to you of October 10, 
1834. Our observations will, therefore, be confined to the first point, 
which relates to the nature and character of the materials of which the 
work is to be composed ; and to the second point, which relates to the 
progress made in the work. 

We intended that our memorial to Congress, and the papers which 
accompanied it, should describe with sufficient clearness the nature and 
character of the materials for the work. They are of the same nature 
and character with those embraced by the plan for a collection of Ame- 
rican State papers, submitted by Mr. Hazzard to Congress, and approved 
of by that body, in 1778. 

Of this collection, Mr. Hazzard informs Congress that " the design of 
it is to furnish materials for a good history of the United States, which 
may now be very well done ; for so rapid has been our political progress, 
that we can easily recur to the first step taken on the Continent, and 
clearly point out our different advances from persecution to comparative 
liberty, and from thence to independent empire. In this particular we 
have the advantage of every nation upon earth ; and gratitude to Heaven 
and to our virtuous fathers, justice to ourselves, and a becoming regard 
to posterity, strongly urge us to an improvement of it before time and 
accident deprive us of the means." 

The committee, to whom the letter of Mr. Hazzard was referred, 
reported on the 20th of July — 



38 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

" That they have had the same under consideration, and, having eon- 
versed with Mr. Hazzard on the subject, are of opinion that Mr. Hazzard's 
undertaking is laudable, and deserves the public patronage and encou- 
ragement, as being productive of public utility. Whereupon, it was 

" Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Governors, Pre- 
sidents, and Executive powers of the several States in this Union, to 
assist Mr. Hazzard, and give facility to his labors, in making a collection 
of the various State papers relative to the origin and progress of the 
several European settlements in North America, and such as relate to 
the rise and progress of the present war with Great Britain : that, for 
this pHrposc, he be admitted to an inspection of public records, and be 
furnished, without expense, with copies of such papers as he may judge 
will conduce to the valuable end he hath in view : that it be also recom- 
mended to such private gentlemen as may have collected any materials 
of the kinds above mentioned, to assist Mr. Hazzard in his laudable un- 
dertaking." 

The plan of this proposed collection of American State papers, which 
received the particular sanction of Richard Henry Lee, William Duer, 
and Samuel Adams, as a committee, and the approbation of the whole 
Congress on their report, we have adopted, and extended it so as to 
embrace the time from the war of the revolution to the adoption of the 
federal constitution. 

In our letter of July 18, 1831, to your predecessor, Mr. Livingston, 
we indicated six periods of time into which the history proposed to be 
illustrated by our work appeared to be divided. The fourth of these 
periods embraced the interval between the year 1774 and the declaration 
of independence. As the materials which we have obtained or engaged, 
referring to this period, are more complete than those applicable to any 
other, our publication will commence with it. The paper herewith sub- 
mitted, marked A, and entitled " An outline of the fourth series of the 
Documentary History of the American Revolution," exhibits the plan of 
that series under eleven specifications of its general contents. It will be 
observed that these contents are of three descriptions, viz. 

1st. Proceedings and debates of the British Parliament, and papers 
before it, concerning American affairs, during three sessions. 

2d. Proceedings and papers of the American Congress in 1774, 1775, 
and 1776. 

3d, Proceedings of the colonies in assemblies, congresses, conven- 
tions, and committees, in 1774, 1775, and 177G. 

The paper marked B is a list of papers laid before Parliament at the 
three sessions named in the outline, on which papers the laws then 
passed, alFecting the colonies, were founded. These documents illustrate 
the first of the three descriptions of materials just enumerated, to be con- 
tained in the fourth series. 

The paper marked C is a list of the papers laid before the Continental 
Congress in 1774, 1775, and 1776; they illustrate the second description 
of materials. 

In regard to the third description of materials, no list is sent, because 
an enumeration of their titles would occupy too much room ; and it is 
believed that the general description will sutRciently inform you of their 
nature. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 39 

In corroboration of the views taken by your predecessor, Mr. Livingston 
of the national importance of our enterprise, we take leave to cite the 
authority of another distinguished citizen, the late Judge Griffith, of New 
Jersey, who appears, from evidence with which we have only recently 
become acquainted, to have deeply considered the subject. In the pre- 
face to his Historical Notes to our Revolutionary History, of which he 
lived only to see a fragment printed, and no portion published, the 
learned judge holds the following language : 

" We have yet, I conceive, no complete history of the revolution ; a 
history in the form of annals and documentary evidence at large, com- 
mencing with the peace of Paris in 1763, and ending with the peace of 
Paris in 1T83. 

" An account of this period, comprising its written evidences, legis- 
lative, executive, and diplomatic, private and public, on both sides of the 
Atlantic, precedent to hostilities in 1775 ; the progress and events of the 
war to its termination, and the conduct and characters of those men on 
all sides, who figured as actors in this great drama, would be a most 
interesting work. The matters which should compose it do not rest on 
tradition, but may (to the proceedings even of a town meeting or corpo- 
ration, as well as the acts of a minister, Congress, or general) be traced 
to public offices and undoubted writings, and be delineated with the ex- 
actness of a judicial record. Yet we have no such history; and he who 
would attain a just and comprehensive knowledge of the affairs of this 
twenty years, (by far the most important in their consequences, as fixing 
principles of government, and promoting civil liberty over the world 
which ever filled an equal space,) will fall infinitely short of his object 
by resorting to any and all the professed histories now extant : they are 
very deficient in that fulness and certainty of authentic documents and 
authority which alone can satisfy one who seeks for truth, and w^ould 
draw his own conclusions from the original evidence. 

" The historical essays of this period are defective in order, connexion 
and dependence of leading measures and events. They are much too 
scanty ; and this defect is not supplied by correct and ample references 
to the sources from which they are made up. 

" True history is not to be erected upon private assertions, opinions, 
and surmises, however respectable, or in a representation of individual 
acts and events. The accounts of armaments, invasions, sieges, battles, 
and hazards of war, and their results — these are consequential and 
wholly subordinate, though proper in their place and connexion. 

" The rational mind inquires for the actual causes of revolution, of 
war, or political changes ; and the particular and successive ways and 
means, of whatever kind, employed by States or agents concerned, to 
effect their purposes : these rest on evidence, and it is that which con- 
stitutes all true and useful history. 

" There could be no undertaking more worthy of the labors of a 
vigorous, impartial, and enlightened mind, than that of collecting and 
embodying these evidences in their due order and connexion ; handing 
down to posterity, in their original and unmutilated forms, a series of 
documentary annals, whether parliamentary, legislative, diplomatic^ 
epistolary, or popular ; followed by an account of the respective measures 
and events which grew out of the original elements and causes of strife. 



40 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

"This would, doubtless, be a voluminous compilation ; but the period 
embraced is that which stands more immediately connected with the 
ereat cause of human liberty and discussion of the rights of man in society 
as a distinct subject of controversy, than any other. Previous to this, 
the principles of free government, and the inherent right of the people 
to take care of their own interests and happiness, by their own reason 
and authority, had only been touched upon in theories little known, or 
scattered and mixed up with many alloys and heterogeneous ingredients, 
in the history and legal constitutions of England. Wars and revolutions 
before were only trials of physical strength to acquire dominion, or 
maintain it, over men, as mere subjects of government, not as partakers 
in its rightful and beneficent execution : wars springing from personal 
ambition or vengeance, waged to resent an insult, to propagate religious 
creeds by the sword, or enforce pretensions founded in avarice and a 
spirit of monopoly. 

" The principles on which the American contest was sustained, and 
their elucidations involved exclusively the nature and extent of civil 
liberty, the right of self-government in the people, and the assertion that 
power was held from them, and for them, to be executed as a trust, and 
revocable at their pleasure ; an exhibition of these principles and eluci- 
dations, with the motives and conduct of the statesmen and patriots who 
maintained them ; the successful issue, in the establishment of free forms 
of republican government, reduced to written certainty, and executed 
with perfect order, efficiency, and justice, under authorities delegated by 
the people, {all ichich such a tvork must unfold^) would constitute an 
invaluable legacy to mankind : more especially, since near half a century 
of experiment, under many disadvantages, has realized every prediction 
which the most sanguine theorists ever indulged in favor of republican 
government." 

The prosecution of our work has, at every step, furnished proof con- 
firming the opinions of Judge Griffith, and in no particular more con- 
spicuously than in showing the importance of documentary history in 
correctinf the errors and supplying the omissions of our popular histories. 
From this charge not one of them, Avhich it has been our fortune to 
Examine in an extended range of inquiry, is exempt. Were it a proper 
occasion, we could furnish, with this communication, a multitude of 
instances in illustration of this position. 

In relation to the second inquiry, as to the progress made in collecting 
materials for the work, we have to state that, since our letter of the 10th 
of October last, we have procured part of the following, and will have 
the whole as soon as copies can be made of them : 

The proceedings and papers of the Provincial Congresses of Massa- 
chusetts. 

The proceedings and papers of the Provincial Congresses, Conventions, 
and Committees of Safety of New York. 

Correspondence of the Committee of Fifty of New York in 1774. 

Proceedings of the Conventions, and letters of the Committees of Safety 
of Maryland. 

Proceedings of the Provincial Congresses of South Carolina. 

Governor Trumbull's letters and papers, in 1774, 1775, and 1776. 

Correspondence of Lord Stirling during the same period. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 41 

Letters of John Hancock, (while President of Congress,) from Sep- 
tember 15, 1775, to the 27th October, 1777. 

We have also examined several valuable collections of manuscripts^ 
preparatory to a selection of the papers. 

And we have accepted the offer made by a gentleman in London, who 
had them for sale, of all the papers of Governor Bernard, comprising his 
own letter books, with copies of his private and public correspondence 
while Governor of New Jersey, from 1758 to 1760; while Governor of 
Massachusetts Bay, from 1760 to 1769; and when in England, in 1770 
to 1771 ; together with his original commissions and instructions, public 
and private, and letters to him from the Ministers, Board of Trade, &c., 
&c. ; and the letter books of Governor Tryon, of North Carolina, from 
1764 to 1771 ; with minutes of the proceedings of Council, and copies of 
the Governor's speeches, proclamations, &c. &c. These we expect to 
receive as soon as they can be transmitted. 

We have not yet been able to examine the papers of New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, and Delaware, but will do so as soon as possible. This 
communication has been delayed for some time, in the expectation that 
the examination of the papers of these States would have been accom- 
plished in part, before it was necessary to make it. 

In closing this report, we would call your attention to one fact, as an 
evidence of the wisdom of Congress in authorizing the collection and 
publication of these documents. Notwithstanding the care that has been 
taken of the papers of the revolution, many, and some of them of the 
highest importance, are not to be found. The records and correspond- 
ence of the Treasury and of the Board of War have probably been lost by 
fires ; and one book only remains of all the papers and correspondence 
of the Marine Committees and the two Navy Boards. These losses, 
besides others, in regard to papers belonging to particular States, have 
all occurred many years since the date of Mr. Hazzard's letter of July 11, 
1778, in which he impressively urges the preparation of a documentary 
history of the United States " before time and accident should deprive us 
of the means." To the extent of such losses has the nation been de- 
prived of materials necessary for its history, except in the comparatively 
few^ instances in which duplicates of the destroyed papers exist. Our 
proposed publication furnishes adequate provision against the effect of 
similar casualties that may unfortunately happen hereafter, in destroying 
the sources of authentic information on the events of our revolutionary 
era. We have the honor to be. 

Very respectfully, 

Your most obedient servants, 

M. ST. CLAIR CLARKE. 

Hon. John Forsyth, PETER FORCE. 

Secretary of State. 



A. 

Outline of the fourth series of the Documentary History of the American 

Revolution. 
1. Proceedings, papers, and debates of the British Parliament, on Ame- 
rican measures, from March 7, 1774, to June 22, 1774. 
4 



42 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

2. Acts passed at the same session, afl'ccting the colonies. 

3. Proceedings in the colonies, in consequence of the acts of Parlia- 

ment. 

4. Proceedings and papers of the Continental Congress, in 1774. 

5. Proceedings, papers, and debates of the British Parliament, on Ame- 

rican measures, from the 5th of December, 1774, to the 26th of 
May, 1775. 

6. Proceedings in the colonies, from October, 1774, to May, 1775. 

7. Proceedings and papers of the Congress, from the 10th of May, 1775, 

to the 1st of August, 1775. 

8. Proceedings, papers, and debates of the British Parliament, on Ame- 

rican measures, from the 26th of October, 1775, to the 23d of 
May, 1776. 

9. Proceedings of the colonies, from May, 1775, to July, 1776. 

10. Proceedings and papers of the Congress, from September 5, 1775, to 

July 4, 1776. 

11. This series of the work also includes the correspondence and other 

papers of British officers, civil and niilitary, in America, and of the 
officers and agents of the Congress and the colonies, from 1774 
to 1776 ; with such other papers, not specially embraced by the 
foregoing heads, as are necessarily connected with the events of 
this period of the revolution. 

Note. — The proceedings of the colonies exhibit the action of each on 
all the questions and measures grov»ing out of the dispute with Great 
Britain, in assemblies, congresses, conventions, and committees ; and in- 
clude the papers laid before them, their addresses, remonstrances, cor- 
respondence, orders, resolves, and enactments. Their debates have 
only, in very few instances, been preserved ; such as can be found will 
be inserted in this collection. 



B. 

Letters^ &fc. relating to the dispute between Great Britain and the Colo- 
nies, laid before Parliament, from March, 1774, to May, 1776. 

Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 
4th November, 1773 ; received 17th December; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter to Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, delivered at their 

house in Boston, the 2d November, 1773. 
Copy of a printed paper posted up in the town of Boston on the 3d 

of November, 1773. 
Copy of a narrative. 
Copy of a narrative. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Milton, 
near Boston, 6th November, 1773; received 25th of December; en- 
closing — 

Copy of a letter from Mr. Richard Clarke and Company, and Ben- 
jamin Fanueil and Company, to John Hancock, Esq., dated 4th 
November, 1773. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 43 

Copy of a vote of the town meeting of Boston, 5th November, 1773. 
Copy of a letter from Thomas Hutchinson, jr. to John Hancock, Esq. 
(no date.) 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 5th 

November, 1773; received the 3d of January, 1774. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 2d 
December, 1773 ; received 27th January, 1774 ; enclosing — 

Copy of a petition of Richard Clarke and Sons, Benjamin Fanueil 
and Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, and of the procedings of the 
Council thereupon. 
Extract from the Massachusetts Gazette of 26th November, 1773. 
Copy of a paper printed at Boston, dated 1st December, 1773. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 

December 15^ 1773 ; received 2d February, 1774. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 17th 

December, 1773 ; received 27th January, 1774. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 20th 

December, 1773 ; received 14th February, 1774. 
Letter froin Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 24th 
December, 1773; received 14th February, 1774; enclosing — 

Extract from the minutes of Council of the Massachusetts Bay, of 21st 
December, 1773. 
Letter from Gov. Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 4th 

January, 1774 ; received 13th February. 
Letter from Major General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

New York, 3d November, 1773 ; received 10th December. 
Letter from Major General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
* New York, 28th December, 1773; received 4th February, 1774. 
Letter from Major General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

New York, 5th January, 1774 ; received 5th February. 
Copy of a paper referred to in Major General Haldimand's letter of 6th 

January, 1774. 
Letter from Major General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

2d February, 1774 ; received 2d Mai-ch. 
Letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New York, 
3d November, 1773, received 10th December; enclosing — 

Copy of a printed paper entitled " The Alarm, No. 1," dated New 

York, 6th October, 1773. 
Copy of a printed paper entitled " The Alarm, No. 2," dated New 

York, 9th October, 1773. 
Extract from a printed paper entitled " The Alarm," dated New 
York, 19th October, 1773. 
Letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New York, 
1st December, 1773 ; received 10th January, 1774 ; enclosing — 
Memorial of the agents of the East India Company, praying that the 
tea shipped by the company may, on its arrival, be taken under 
the protection of the Government. 
Minute of the Council relative to the tea shipped by the East India 
Company. 
Letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New York, 
3d January, 1774 ; received 5th February. 



44 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

Letter from Governor Tryon to the Eail of Dartmouth, dated New York, 
5th January, 1774; received 5th Febiuary ; enclosing — 
Extracts from the minutes of the Council of New York. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

24th December, 1773 ; received 28th January, 1774. 
Letter from Governor VVentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 
Hampshire, 17th December, 1773; received 2d March, 1774 ; en- 
closing — 

Notification of the selectmen of the town of Portsmouth. 
Resolves of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, respecting the tea. 
Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 20th January, 1774; received 21st ; enclosing — 
Copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Montagu to Philip Stephens, 
Esquire, Secretary of the Admiralty, dated Boston, 8th Decem- 
ber, 1773. 
Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 27th January, 1774 ; received the same day ; enclos- 
ing- 
Copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Montagu to Philip Stephens, 
Esquire, Secretary of the Admiralty, dated Boston, 17th Decem- 
ber, 1773. 
Letter from Lord Viscount Barrington to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
War Office, 28th January, 1774; received 29th; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from the honorable Alex'r Leslie, lieutenant 
colonel of the 64th regiment of foot, to Lord Viscount Barring- 
ton, dated Castle William, 6th December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter from [the honorable Alex'r Leslie, lieutenant 
colonel of the 64th regimentof foot, to Lord Viscount Barrington* 
dated 17th December, 1773. 
A note from the chairman of the East India Company to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 20th of December, 1773 ; received 21st ; enclosing — 
Account of tea exported by the East India Company to his Majesty's 
colonies in North America, with the quantities, and to whom con- 
signed. 
A note froiT) the chairman of the East India Company to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 23d of December, 1773 ; received 25th; enclosing — 
Extract of a letter dated Boston, 18th October, 1773. 
Extract of a letter from New York, dated 5th November, 1773. 
Extract of a letter from New York, dated 5th November, 1773. 
Letter relative to advices received from Philadelphia and New York, 

dated 21st December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter relative to advices received from Philadelphia, 

dated 21st December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter relative to the exportation of tea to Boston, dated 

21st December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter relative to the exportation of tea to South Carolina. 
Copy of a letter relative to the exportation of tea to New York. 
Letter from the chairman of the East India Company to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 24th December, 1773 ; received 25th; enclosing — 
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated 5th October, 1773. 
Extract of two letters from Philadelphia, dated 5th October, and 30th, 
1773. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 45 

A letter from the chairman and deputy chairman of the East India 
Company to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 10th January, 1774; re- 
ceived 15th; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from the East India Company's agents at New York 

to the Court of Directors. 
Copy of the memorial of Henry White and others, merchants, to 
the Governor of New York. 
Letter from an agent of the East India Company to his correspondents 

in London, dated Boston, 15th November, 1773. 
Letter from an agent of the East India Company to his correspondents 

in London, dated Boston, — November, 1773. 
Letter from an agent of the East India Company to the chairman, dated 

Boston, 17th November, 1773. 
Letter from the chairman of the East India Company to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated 21st January, 1774; received 25th ; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter, Anglo-Americanus, to the East India Company, 
dated Boston, 17th December, 1773. 
Copy of a note from the chairman and deputy chairman of the East 
India Company to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 26th January, 1774; 
received same day. 
Letter from the chairman and deputy chairman of the East India Com- 
pany to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 26th January, 1774; received 
27th; enclosing — 

Letter to the Delaware pilots and to Capt. Ayres, dated Philadel- 
phia, 27th of November, 1773. 
Declaration of Messieurs James and Drinker, agents for the East 

India Company at Philadelphia. 
Postscript to the Philadelphia Gazette, of 24th of December, 1773. 
Letter from Messieurs James and Drinker to the Directors of the 
East India Company, dated Philadelphia, 28th December, 1773. 
Letter from Messrs. Thomas and Isaac Wharton, Jonathan Browne, and 
Gilbert Barkley, to the East India Company, dated Philadelphia, 28th 
December, 1773. 
Letter from the chairman of the East India Company to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, received 3d of February, 1774. 
Letter from Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, Richard Clarke and Sons, 
and Benjamin Faneuil, to the Directors of the East India Company, 
dated 2d of December, 1773. 
Letter from do. to do. dated 17th of December, 1773. 
Two letters from Messrs. Smith, Legar, and Greenwood, to the Secretary 

of the East India Company, dated 4th and 18th of December, 1773. 
Note from the chairman and deputy chairman of the East India Company 
to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 9th of February, 1774 ; received 10th ; 
enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Henry White, Abraham Lott, and Company, 
and Pigou and Booth, to the Directors of the East India Company, 
dated New York, 27th December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter from Henry White and ethers, to Captain Benjamin 
Lockyer, of the ship Nancy, dated New York, 27th December, 
1773. 



46 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Copy of a note from the chairman and deputy chairman of the East India 
Company to the Earl of .Dartmouth, dated 15th of February, 1774 ; re- 
ceived 16th ; enclosing — 

Questions proposed by Francis Rotch, an owner, and James Hall, 

master, of the ship Dartmouth, with the answers of the consignees. 

Questions proposed by James Bruer, master of the ship Eleanor, 

with the answers of the consignees. 
Copy of a letter from Mr. Rotch, owner of the ship Dartmouth, to 
Richard Clarke and Sons, & Co., dated Boston, 6th of January, 
1774. 
Copy of a letter from Richard Clarke and Sons, and Benjamin Fa- 
neuii, Jr., to the Directors of the East India Company, dated 
Castle William, 7th of January, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Richard Clarke and Sons, and Benjamin Fa- 
neuil, Jr., to the Directors of the East India Company, dated 7th 
of January, 1774. 
Letter from Mr. Mitchell, Secretary to the East India Company, to 
John Pownall, Esq., dated 16th February, 1774; received 17th; en- 
closing — 

Copy of a memorial of the East India Company to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated 16th February, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Grey Cooper, Esq., Secretary of the Treasury, to 
John Pownall, Esq., dated 7th of March, 1774, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Mr. Mather, acting as Secretary to the Com- 
missioners of the Customs in America, dated 7th of October, 1773, 
to John Robinson, Esq., Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury; 
received 14th of February, 1774. 
Letter from the Commissioners of the Customs in America to the Lords 
of the Treasury, dated Boston, 4th of January, 1774 ; received 14th of 
February ; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from the Collector and Comptroller of the Customs 
at Boston, to the Commissioners of the Customs there, dated 17th 
of December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter from do to do dated 23d of December, 1773. 
Copy of a letter from do to do dated 31st of December, 1773. 
Copy of a protest of James Bruer, James Bruer, Jr., and John Finney ► 
Copy of a protest of Hezekiah Coffin and others. 
Do do of Francis Rotch do 

Do depositions of Samuel Hunt do 

of Tliomas Rich do 

of William Elliott do 

of Alexander Hodgson do 
of James Bruer do 

of Arthur Savage do 

of Robert Parker, 
of Francis Rotch. 
of James Bruer. 
of Hezekiah Coffin. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated Boston, 28th of January, 1774; received 8th of March; en- 
closing — 

Extract from the Boston Gazette of the 27th of January, 1774. 



Do 


do 


Do 


do 


Do 


do 


Do 


do 


Do 


report 


Do 


do 


Do 


memorial 


Do 


do 


Do 


do 


March 11. 


Letter fro 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 47 

Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 

21st January, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 

30th January, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 

2d February, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, 4th April, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 
18th February, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of a circular letter from the House of Representatives of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay to the other Assemblies in North America, Feb- 
ruary 11, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 
5th March, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of resolves of the House of Representatives, 26th February, 

1768. 
Copy of a libel printed in the Boston Gazette, February 28, 1768. 
Copy of proceedings of the Council on the subject of the libel in 

the Boston Gazette, 28th February, 1768. 
Copy of Governor Bernard's message to the Council. 
Copy of the Council's address in answer, and copy of Governor 

Bernard's reply. 
Copy of Governor Bernard's message to the Assembly. 
Copy of the Assembly's answer thereto. 

Appendix to Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachu- 
setts Bay, February, 1768. 
Copy of a circular letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Go- 
vernors of several colonies in America, dated Whitehall, April 
21, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, 22d April, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Major General Gage, dated 

Whitehall, 23d April, 1768. 
Letter from Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Phelpes, Treasury Chamber, 7th May, 
1768, enclosing — 

Memorial of the Commissioners of the Customs in America, dated 

12th February, 1768. 
Copy of a circular letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to all the 
Governors on the continent of North America, dated Whitehall, 
14th May, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 

12th March, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated Boston, 
19th March, 1768, enclosing — 

Resolution of the Council on the 18th of March, 1768, relative to 

the riots at Boston. 
Affidavit of Mr. Wolton, Inspector General of the Customs. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 31st 
March, 1768, enclosing — 

Extract from the Boston Gazette, containing an account of the meet- 
ing of the merchants on the 18th of March. 



48 [ Doc. No. 3G. ] 

Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Major General Gage, dated 

Whitehall, 8th June, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Lords of the Admiralty, 

dated Whitehall, 11th June, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated 11th 

June, 1768. 
Letter irom Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Pownall, dated Treasury Chamber, 
8th July, 1768, enclosing — 

Memorial of the Commissioners of the Customs in America, dated 

28th March, 1768. 
Copy of a circular letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to all the 
Governors on the continent of North America, dated Whitehall, 
11th July, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated 11th 

July, 1768. 
Letter from Mr. Pownall to Mr. Bradshaw, dated Whitehall, 11th July, 

1768. 
Letters from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, June 11th and 13th, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 14th June, 1768, enclosing — 

Minutes of a council on the 11th June, 1768. 
Depositions of a riot at Boston, 10th June, 1768. 
Copies of letters between Governor Bernard and the Commission- 
ers of the Customs, — June, 1768. 
Letters from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, June 16th and 18th, 1768, enclosing — 

Incendiary paper stuck up at Boston in June, 1768. 

Copv of the petition of the town of Boston to Governor Bernard, 

June 14, 1768. 
Copy of Governor Bernard's answer to the petition of the town of 

Boston. 
Instructions to the members for the town of Boston. 
Letter from Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Pownall, dated Treasury Chamber, 
22d July, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of a memorial of the Commissioners of the Customs, June 16, 

1768, and "such" papers thereunto annexed. 
Copy of examination of Mr. Hallowell at the Treasury Board, July 
21, 1768. 
Letter from Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Pownall, dated Treasury Chamber, 
November 23, 1768, enclosing — 

Corrections in the examination of Mr. Hallowell, on the 21st of 
July, 1768. 
Memorial presented to the Earl of Hillsborough, July 21, 1768, by Mr. 

Dennys de Berdt, and depositions therewith annexed. 
Letter from Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Pownall, dated Treasury Chamber, 
August 4, 1768, enclosing — 

Case, and opinion thereupon of his Majesty's Attorney General, re- 
specting the seizure of a vessel at Boston in June, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 
Whitehall, 27th July, 1768. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 49 

Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Lords of the Admiralty, dated 

Whitehall, July 28, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Major General Gage, dated 

Whitehall, July 30, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, July 30, 1768, enclosing — 

Opinion of Sir Edward Northey, Sir Dudley Rider, and Sir John 
Strange, upon the act of the 6th of Queen Anne, for encouraging 
the trade to America. 
Letter from Mr. Pownall to Mr. Bradshavv, dated July 28, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 17th 

June, 1768. 
Letters from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated June 
25, 28, and July 1, 1768, enclosing- 
Messages and answers between the Governor and House of Repre- 
sentatives of Massachusetts Bay, June, 1768. 
Answer of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay to 
the Governor, June 30, 1768. 
Letter to the Earl of Hillsborough from the Speaker of the House of Re- 
presentatives of Massachusetts Bay, dated June 30, 1768. 
Extracts of the printed journal of the proceedings of the House of Re- 
presentatives of Massachusetts Bay, from 30th December, 1767, to 
30th June, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

9th July, 1768. 
Supplemental letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, July 9, 1768. 
Letters from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
July 18 and 19, 1768, enclosing — 
Copies of papers published at Boston. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated July 
16, 1768, enclosing — 

Petition of the Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay to his 
Majesty. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

July 18, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated Sep- 
tember 14, 1768. 
Letter from Mr. Bradshaw to Mr. Pownall, dated Treasury Chamber, 
August 31, 1768, enclosing — 

Memorial of the Commissioners of the Customs in North America, 
July 11, 1768, and papers thereunto annexed. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
July 30, 1768, enclosing — 

Copies of letters between Governor Bernard and General Gage, 

July, 1768. 
Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay, July 27 and 29, 1768. 
Observations on the Council's answer to Governor Bernard, July 29, 
1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
August 6, 1768. 



60 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

August 9, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
August 29, 1768, enclosing — 
Extract from the Boston Gazette. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, October 12, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Sep- 
tember 9, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
September 16, 1768, enclosing — 

Extract from the Boston Gazette of 16th September, 1768. 
Proceedings at a town meeting at Boston, on the 12th of September, 

1768. 
Circular letter from the selectmen of the town of Boston, to the se- 
veral towns and districts in Massachusetts Bay, September 14, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 23d September, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 26th September, 1768, enclosing — 

Minutes of Council, 19th September, 1768 ; 
Minutes of Council, 22d September, 1768 ; 

Minutes of Council, 26th September, 1768 j extracted from the Bos- 
ton Gazette. 
Paragraph proposed to be inserted in the Council's answer to the 
Governor's message. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
September 27, 1768, enclosing — 

Proceedings of the Convention assembled at Boston on the 22d 
September, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
October 1, 1768, enclosing — 

Minutes of the Council on the 29th September, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
October 3, 1768, enclosing — 

Result of the proceedings of the Convention. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
October 5, 1768, enclosing — 

Minutes of Council on the 3d and 5th October, 1768. 
Letter from the town of Hatfield to the selectmen of the town of 
Boston, September 22, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, 15th November, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Mr. Sayre to the Earl of Hillsborough. 
Minutes of the Board of Treasury, transmitted to the Earl of Hillsbo- 
rough, November 28, 1768. 
Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Earl of 
Hillsborough, dated 2d December, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 

Halifax, 12th October, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from Colonel Dalrymple to Captain Smith, com« 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 51 

manding oflScer of his Majesty's ships at Boston, dated B(Jston, 2d 
October, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from Colonel Dalrymple to Commodore Hood, 

dated Boston, 4th October, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from Captain Smith, commanding officer of his Ma- 
jesty's ships at Boston, to Commodore Hood, dated 5th October, 
1768. 
Copy of a diary kept by Captain Corner. 
Extract of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 

on board the Viper, sloop, in Halifax harbor, October 23, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from General Gage to Commodore Hood, dated 
Boston, 18th October, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated at Bos- 
ton, October 14, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the honorable Major General 

Gage, dated Whitehall, 10th December, 1768. 
Letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Hillsborough, dat- 
ed 14th December, 1768, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Captain Smith, dated Boston, 26th October, 
1768; received 14th December. 
Letter from the honorable Major General Gage to the Earl of Hillsborough, 
dated Boston, 31st October, 1768; received 23d December; enclosing — 
Copy of the address of the subscribers, members of his Majesty's 
Council of Massachusetts Bay, to the honorable Major General" 
Gage, with the General's answer thereto. 
Letter from the honorable Major General Gage to the Earl of Hillsbo- 
rough, dated Boston, 3d November, 1768; received 23d December. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 1st November, 1768 ; received 23d December ; enclosing — 
Copy of the answer of the Justices. 

Copy of Governor Bernard's order to Joseph Goldthwaite, Esq. 
Minutes of Council of Boston, of the 12th, 17th, and 26th October, 
1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 
5th November, 1768 ; received 23d December ; enclosing — 

Copy of the address of the subscribers, members of his Majesty's 
Council of Massachusetts Bay, to the honorable Major General 
Gage, with the General's answer thereto. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the honorable Major General 

Gage, dated Whitehall, 24th December, 1768. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, 24th December, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

12th November, 1768; received 30th December. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

14th November, 1768; received 30th December. 
Letter from tlie Earl of Hillsborough to Governor Bernard, dated White- 
hall, 4th January, 1769. 
Letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Hillsborough, dat- 
ed 7th January, 1769, enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 
Boston harbor, 15th November, 1768. 



52 [ Doc. No. 3G. ] 

Extract of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 

22d November, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, datdH 

25th November, 1768. 
Copy of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 
27th November, 1768. 
Letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Hillsborough, dat- 
ed 13th January, 1769, enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Commodore Hood to Mr. Stephens, dated 
Boston harbor, 7th December, 1768 ; received 13th January. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, 

30th November, 1768 ; received 16th January. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 6th 

December, 1768; received 16th January. 
Letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Hillsborough, dat- 
ed 19th January, 1769, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Commodore Hood, dated Boston harbor, 12th 
December, 1768 ; received 19th January, 1769. 
Letter from Major General Gage to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated New 
York, 4th December, 1769, enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Dalrymple to Major 
General Gage, dated Boston, 28th October, 1769. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Major General Gage, dated 

Whitehall, 18th January, 1770. 
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, 

dated Whitehall, 18th January, 1(770. 
Letter from Major General Gage to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated New 

York, 21st February, 1770. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated New York, 21st February, 1770. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsbo- 
rough, dated Boston, 12th March, 1770, enclosing — 

Copy of the minutes of a council held at Council Chamber, Boston, 
on Tuesday, 6th March, 1770. 
Letter from Colonel Dalrymple to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 13th March, 1770, enclosing — 

Narrative of the late transactions at Boston on the 2d, 3d, and 5th 

of March, 1770. 
Case of Captain Thomas Preston, of the 29th regiment. 
Depositions and informations respecting the transactions referred to 
in Captain Preston's case. 
Circular letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Governors in Ame- 
rica, dated Whitehall, 13th May, 1769. 
Speech of Governor Tryon to the General Assembly of North Carolina, 

on the 23d of October, 1769, with their addresses in answer thereto. 
Lord Bottetourt's speech to the Council and House of Burgesses of Vir- 
ginia, on the 7th of November, 1769, with their addresses in answer 
thereto. 
Speech of Lieutenant Governor Colden to the General Assembly of New 
York, on the 22d November, 1769, with their addresses in answer 
thereto. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 53 

Speech of Governor Wright to the General Assembly of Geot-gia, with 

their addresses in answer thereto. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Bos- 
ton, 14th February, 1774 ; received 5th of April; enclosing — 

Copy of Governor Hutchinson's speech to the Council and House of 

Representatives, and their answer. 
Copy of a requisition from the House of Representatives of Massa- 
chusetts Bay to the Judges of the Superior Court. 
Copy of a remonstrance of the House ot Representatives of Massa- 
chusetts Bay against the Chief Justice. 
Copy of a vote of the Council and House of Representatives of 
Massachusetts Bay, for adjourning the Superior Court, not con- 
sented to by the Governor. 
Copy of Governor Hutchinson's answer to the remonstrance of the 
House of Representatives against the Chief Justice. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Lords of Trade, dated Boston, 7th 

July, 1766. 
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Bos- 
ton, 30th May, 1768. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 
' Boston, 6th July, 1771, with a copy of his message to the House of 

Representatives, and the answer of the said House. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated 

Boston, 29th May, 1772, with an enclosure. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Bos- 
ton, 22d February, 1773. 
Printed copy of the speeches of Governor Hutchinson to the General 
Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, with the answer of the Council 
and House of Representatives. 
Copy of a petition and remonstrance to the King from the House of Re- 
presentatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, dated 14th July, 
1772. 
Copy of a petition to the King from the House of Representatives of the 

Province of Massachusetts Bay, dated 6th March, 1773. 
Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Bos- 
ton, 9th March, 1774 ; received 13th May; enclosing — 
Extract from the Boston Gazette. Hi^^fe" 

Copy of a letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated Boston, 21st of March, 1774; received 13th May, 1774; en- 
closing — 

Copy of the resolution of the House of Representatives, concurred 

in by the Council. 
Copy of a message from the House of Representatives to Governor 

Hutchinson. 
Copy of Governor Hutchinson's message to the House of Represen- 
tatives. 
Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to the honorable Governor Gage, 
dated Whitehall, 9th April, 1774, enclosing — - ■ ^ 

Copy of a minute of the Treasury Board, on 31st March, 1774. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 19th May, 1774 ; received 22d June ; enclosing- 
Extract from the Massachusetts Gazette of 19th May, 1774. 

1^ * 



54 [ Doc. 'No. 36. ] 

Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 31st May, 1774 ; received 5th July ; enclosing — 

List of counsellors, and copy of the Governor's speech to both Houses. 
Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to the honorable Governor Gage, dated 

Whitehall, 3d June, 1774. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Salem, 26th June, 1774; received 2d August; enclosing — 

Copy of the address of the Council, and Governor Gage's reasons 

for refusing it. 
Copy of the resolves of the House of Representatives, before they 

proceeded to business at Salem. 
Copy of address of the House of Representatives. 
Copy of the resolves of the House of Representatives, 17th June, 
1774. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Salem, 5th July, 1774 ; received 2d August ; enclosing — 
Copy of a proclamation. 

Copy of a circular letter, and of a paper called " a league and cove- 
nant." 
Copy of proceedings at a town meeting at Boston, 27th June. 
Copy of the protest of several of the inhabitants of Worcester against 
the proceedings of the town meeting on 20th June. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Boston, 20th July, 1774 ; received 7th September. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Salem, 27th July, 1774 ; received 7th September; enclosing — 
Copy of a notification for a town meeting. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Salem, 27th August, 1774; received 1st October; enclosing — 
List of counsellors. 

Extract of a letter from Hampshire county, of 10th August, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from the Boston Committee of Correspondence to 

the several counties. 
Copy of a paper posted up at Salem. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 2d September, 1774 ; received 1st October; enclosing — 
Copy of a minute of Council, held at Boston, 31st August. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 3d September, 1774; received 1st October; enclosing — 
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Oliver to Governor 
Gage, dated 2d September. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 20th September, 1774 ; received 18th November ; enclosing — 
Copy of a letter from the Judges of the Inferior Court of the county 

of Hampshire. 
Account of proceedings against the Inferior Court of Springfield, in 

the county of Hampshire. 
Copy of Mr. Paine's account of the proceedings at Worcester. 
Copy of a letter to Josiah Edson, Esq., and form of a resignation as 

counsellor, therein enclosed. 
Copy of proceedings at the meeting of the delegates of the county of 
Suffolk. 



[ iJoc. No. 36. J 55 

Copy of the proceedings of the Committee of Correspondence, in 
the county of Worcester. 

Copy of the proceedings of the Committee of Correspondence, at 
Worcester, 9th August. 

Reasons of the Grand and Petit Juries for declining to serve, deli- 
vered into court 30th August, 1774. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 25th September, 1774 ; received 18th November ; enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Major General Haldimand, dated 15th Sep- 
tember. 

Copy of a paper posted up at New York. 

Copies of messages to Governor Gage, and his answer. 

Copy of two resolutions entered into by the Congress at Philadelphia. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 3d October, 1774; received 18th December; enclosing — 

Copy of a proclamation issued by Governor Gage, and resolves of a 
committee for the county of Worcester. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 17th October, 1774; received 25d December; enclosing — 

Copy of instructions given by the committee of the county of Wor- 
cester to Mr. Timothy Bigelow, a member chosen to represent 
them in the great and general court of the Province of Massachu- 
setts Bay. 

Copy of instructions given by the committee of the county of Wor- 
cester to Mr. Timothy Bigelow, a member to represent them in 
the Provincial Congress at Concord. 

Copy of an address of the committee of the county of Worcester to 
Governor Gage. 

Copy of a second address of the committee of the county of Wor- 
cester to Governor Gage. 

Copy of Governor Gage's answer to the committee of the county of 
Worcester. 

Proceedings of a Congress of Committees for the county of Hamp- 
shire, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay; and resolves of the 
county of Bristol. 

Resolves of a Provincial Congress at Concord, October 14, 1774. 

Copy of a message from the Provincial Congress at Concord to Go- 
vernor Gage. 

Copy of Governor Gage's answer thereto. 
Letters from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated Boston, 30th October, and 2d November, 1774 ; received 2d 
January, 1775 ; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from the honorable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Pre- 
sident of the Continental Congress sitting at Philadelphia, to the 
honorable Governor Gage. 

Copy of a letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the honora- 
ble Peyton Randolph, Esquire. 

Copy of a message, by a committee from the Provincial Congress, 
to the honorable Governor Gage. 

Proceedings of a Provincial Congress held at Cambridge on the 21st 
and 26th of October, 1774. 



56 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Boston, 15th November, 1774 ; received 3d January, 1775 ; enclosing — 

Copy of a proclamation issued by Governor Gage. 

Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, 15th December, 1774; received 10th January, 1775; 

enclosing — 

Proceedings of a Provincial Congress at Cambridge. 
Copy of a letter taken from the Boston Gazette. 
Votes of the Assembly of Rhode Island. 
Copy of an act passed by the Assembly of Rhode Island. 
Note from the Lord Viscount Lisburne to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
1st October, 1774, enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Vice Admiral Graves to Mr. Stephens, dated 
Boston, 3d September, 1774. 
Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 15th November, 1774, enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Graves to Mr. Stephens, dated 
Boston, 23d September, 1774. 
Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, dated 14th January, 1775, enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Graves to Mr. Stephens, dated 

Boston, 15th December, 1774. 
Extract of a letter from Captain Wallace to Vice Admiral Graves, 
dated Newport, Rhode Island, 12th December, 1774. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 8th 
June, 1774; received August 2d ; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Mr. Samuel Adams, dated Boston, May 12,, 

1774. 
Copy of a resolution and of a vote of the House of Representatives 

of New Hampshire, 28th May, 1774. 
Copy of Governor Wentworth's message to the Assembly of New 
Hampshire, 8th June, 1774. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 4th 
July, 1774 ; received 2d August ; enclosing — 

Copies of two letters from Mr. Parry to Governor Wentworth, dated 

29th June, 1774. 
Copies of two letters from Governor Wentworth to Captain Cockran, 

dated 29th June, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Captain Cockran to Governor Wentworth, 

dated 30th June, 1774. 
Copies of two letters from Mr. Packer to Governor Wentworth, 
dated 30th June, 1774. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Gth 
July, 1774; received 2d August; enclosing — 

Copy of his speech to the Committee of Correspondence. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 13th 

July, 1774 ; received 7th September. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 29th 
August 1774; received 1st October; enclosing — 

Copy of instructions for Colonel Folsom and Major Sullivan, ap- 
pointed delegates for the province of New Hampshire. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 57 

Copy of a letter from the Committee of Correspondence in New 
Hampshire, and form of non-importation and non-consumption 
agreement, sent to the towns in the province. 
Copy of a vote of a town meeting at Portsmouth. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 13th 
September, 1774 ; received 14th November; enclosing — 

Copy of a letter from Governor Wentworth to Captain Cockran, 

18th July. 
Copy of a letter from Mr. Parry to Governor Wentworth, 8th Sep- 
tember, 
Extracts from the proceedings of the Council of New Hampshire, on 
the 9th and 12th September. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 
Hampshire, 15th November, 1774; received 5th January, 1775; 
enlosing — 

Copy of resolves of the committees of 'the towns of Portsmouth and 
Rochester. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 
Hampshire, 2d December, 1774 ; received 12th January ,5 1775 ; en- 
closing — 

Advertisements from the committees of the towns of Portsmouth 
and Durham. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated New York, 4th May, 1774; received 6th June ; enclosing — 
Extract from the New York Gazetteer of 28th April, 1774. 
Letter from General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 
York, 15th May, 1774 ; received 11th June; enclosing — 
Copy of a paper handed about at New York. 
Letter from Major General Haldimand to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

New York, 1st June, 1774; received 4th July. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated New York, 1st June, 1774; received 4th July; enclosing — 
Copy of a handbill. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated New York, 6th July, 1774 ; received 17th August. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated New York, 2d August, 1774; received 7th September. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated New York, 7th September; received 11th October. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated New York, 5th October, 1774; received 10th November. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated New York, 2d November, 1774; received 13th December. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, 
dated New York, 7th December, 1774; received 6th January, 1775. 
Letter from Governor Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Burling- 
ton, 31st May, 1774; received 4th July. 
Letter from Governor Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Bur- 
lington, 28th June, 1774; received 12th August; enclosing — 

Copy of resolves of the freeholders of the county of Essex, in New 
Jersey, 11th June, 1774. 
5 



58 I Doc. No. 3G. ] 

Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 31st May, 1774 ; received 4th June. ^ !<,«'<:; 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 5th July, 1774 ; received 12th August. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 30th July, 1774; received 7th September; 
enclosing — 

Extracts from the proceedings of the House of Representatives of 

Pennsylvania. 
Extracts from the Pennsylvania Gazette of 27th July, 1774. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia oth September, 1774; received 11th Oc- 
tober. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 3d October, 1774 ; received 10th Novem- 
ber; enclosing — 

Copies of three resolutions of the Congress at Philadelphia, ex- 
tracted from the Pennsylvania Gazette. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 31st October 1774; received 13th De- 
cember. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 4th November, 1774 ; received 17th De- 
cember. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 6th December, 1774; received 6th Janua- 
ry, 1775. 
Letter from the Earl of Dunmore to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Wil- 
liamsburg, 29th May, 1774 ; received 4th July ; enclosing — 

Copy of an order of the House of Burgesses, on 24th May, 1774. 
Copy of an association signed by eighty-nine members of the late 
House of Burgesses. 
Letter from the Earl of Dunmore to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Wil- 
liamsburg, 6th June, 1774; received 11th July; enclosing — 

Resolutions of the inhabitants of the city of Annapolis, in the Pro- 
vince of Maryland, 25th May, 1774. 
Letter from the Earl of Dunmore to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Fre- 
derick county, in Virginia, 14th August, 1774; received 8th October; 
enclosing — 

Copy of an association resolved upon at a meeting of delegates from 

the different counties in Virginia. 
Copy of instructions for the deputies appointed to meet in general 
Congress, on the part of the colony of Virginia. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Charleston, 31st July, 1774; received 16th September; enclosing — 
Extract from the South Carolina Gazette of the 11th July, 1774. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Charleston, 3d August, 1774; received 16th September; enclosing — 
Copy of the proceedings in the Commons House of Assembly of 
South Carolina, on the 2d August. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Charleston, 23d November, 1774; received 16th January, 1775. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 59 

Letter from Sir James Wright, Baronet, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Savannah, 25th July, 1774 ; received 16th September. 
Letter from Sir James Wright, Baronet, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Savannah, 13th August, 1774 ; received 12th October. 
Letter from Sir James Wright, Baronet, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Savannah, 24th August, 1774 ; received 26th October; enclosing — 
Copy of a handbill, dated 14th July, 1774. 
Copy of a proclamation issued by Sir James Wright, Baronet. 
Copy of a handbill, dated 27th July, 1774. 

Copy of resolutions entered into at Savannah, 10th August, 1774. 
Letter from Sir James Wright, Baronet, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Savannah, 13th October, 1774; received 4th January, 1775; enclosing — 
Copies of protests of the inhabitants of several districts in the Pro- 
vince of Georgia. 

* Extracts from the votes and proceedings of the American Continental 
Congress, held at Philadelphia, 5th September, 1774. 

* Petition of sundry persons on behalf of themselves and the inhabitants 
of several of his Majesty's colonies in America; received 21st De- 
cember, 1774. 

Letter from the Hon. Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 17th February, 1775; received 27th March; enclosing — 
Extracts from the records of the late Provincial Congress, held at 
Cambridge, in the months of October, November, and December, 
1774 ; also, extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the 
Congress held at Cambridge, in February, 1775. 
Proceedings of the Provincial Congress at Cambridge, on the 7th, 
15th, and 16th of February, 1775. 
Letter from the Hon. Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Boston, 20th February, 1775 ; received 27th March. 
Letter from Governor Martin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Newbern, 
North Carolina, 1st September, 1774; received 27th January, 1775; 
enclosing — 

Resolutions entered into at a meeting of the inhabitants of the dis- 
trict of Wilmington, 21st July, 1774, and an address to the free- 
holders of Craven county. 
Paper addressed to the freeholders of Craven county. 
Extract from the North Carolina Gazette of 2d September, 1774. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Charleston, South Carolina, 19th December, 1774; received 27th 
January, 1775; enclosing — 

Charge given by Judge Drayton, of South Carolina, and present- 
ments of the Grand Jury. 
Letter from Sir James Wright, Baronet, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Savannah, Georgia, 13th December, 1774; received 27th January,, 
1775 ; enclosing — 

Extract from the Georgia Gazette of 14th December, 1774. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston,26th December,1774 ; received 31st January,! 775 ; enclosing — 
Copy of a letter from Governor Wentworth to Governor Gage, dated 
14th December, 1774. 

* Presented to the House of Commons, January 19, 1775. 



€0 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

Copy of a letter from Captain Cockran to Governor Wentworth, 

dated 14th December, 1774. 
Extracts of a letter from Governor Wentworth to Governor Gage, 
dated 16th December, 1774. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

New York, 4th January, 1775; received 31st January. 
Letter from the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, dated Philadelphia, 31st December, 1774; received 3 1st Janu- 
ary, 1775; enclosing — 

Extracts from the printed votes of the Assembly of Pennsylvania. 
Letter from Deputy Governor Eden, dated Annapolis, Maryland, 30th 
December, 1774; received 1st February, 1775 ; enclosing — 
Extract from the Maryland GaJbtte of December 29, 1774. 
Copy of a paper handed about in the city of Annapolis. 
Letter from the Earl of Dunmore to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Wil- 
liamsburg, 24th December, 1774; received 11th February. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 

Boston, 18th January, 1775 ; received 20th February. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 

Hampshire, 28th December, 1774; received 20th February, 1775. 
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 14th 
January, 1775; received 20th February; enclosing — 
Copy of a proclamation. 
^Letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
21st February, 1775; received 22d ; enclosing — 

Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Graves to Mr. Stephens, dated 

8th January, 1775. 
Copy of a letter from Governor Wentworth to Vice Admiral Graves, 

dated 20th December, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Captain Barkley to Vice Admiral Graves, 

dated 20th December, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Governor Wentworth to Vice Admiral Graves, 

dated 30th December, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Captain Wallace to Vice Admiral Graves, 

dated 15th December, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Captain Wallace to Governor Wanton, dated 

15th December, 1774. 
Copy of a letter from Vice Admiral Graves to Mr. Stephens, dated 

15th January, 1775. 
Proceedings at a meeting of deputies appointed by the several coun- 
ties of Maryland, at Annapolis, from the 8th to the 12th Decem- 
ber, 1774 ; extracted from the Maryland Gazette; received from 
Robert Eden, Esq., Deputy Governor of said province, 17th Feb- 
ruary, 1775. 
Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to Lieutenant Governor Colden, dated 

10th December, 1774. 
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
New York, 1st February, 1775; received 28th February; enclosing — 
Copy of the Lieutenant Governor's speech to the General Assembly. 
Copy of the address of the Council. 
Copy of the address of the Assembly. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 61 

Letter from Governor Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated New 
Jersey, 1st February, 1775; received 28th February ; enclosing — 
Copy of the Governor's speech to the General Assembly. 
Copy of the address of the Council, and of the Governor's answer^ 
Copy of the resolves of the Assembly, and of their address. 
Letter from Deputy Governor Penn to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Philadelphia, 30lh January, 1775 ; received 28th February ; enclosing — 
Copy of the proceedings of a provincial convention held at Phila- 
delphia. 
Copy of the testimony of the people called Quakers. 
Letter from the honorable Governor Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 
Boston, 27th January, 1775; received 7th March ; enclosing — 

Copy of a petition of the magistrates and sundry inhabitants of Scitu- 
ate and Marshfield. 

Papers presented to the House of Commons. 
1774. 
June 1. Copy of a representation of the Lords Commissioners for Trade- 
and Plantations, to tiie Lords of the Committee of Council 
for the Plantation Affairs ; Wiiitehall, September 2, 1765. 

<< Copy of a representation of tlie Lords Commissioners fop 

Trade and Plantations, to the Lords of tiie Committee of 
Council for Plantation Aftairs ; Whiteiiall, July 10, 1769. 

*< Copy of a representation of the Board of Trade to the King,, 

dated January 9, 1765, on affairs of the Province of Que- 
bec. 

" Copy of a memorial of the new subjects of Quebec to hia 

Majesty. 

<* Copy of a memorial of Canadian subjects to the King. 

** Copy of a memorial of the citizens and burgesses of Mon- 

treal to the King. 

'< Copy of a memorial of the principal citizens of Quebec. 

" Memorial of the principal French inhabitants of Canada, iri 

support of their petition to the King. 
June 2. Petition from the new inhabitants of Quebec to his Majesty* 

1775. 

Jan. 26. Petition of William Bollan, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur- 
Lee. 

Jan. 27. An account of the value of all goods, wares, and merchan- 
dises, exported from that part of Great Britain called Eng- 
land, to the British colonies in North America, from Christ*^ 
mas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each colony. 

Feb. 3. An account of the amount of drawbacks paid out of the pro- 
duce of the customs in England for the three years ending 
at Christmas, in 1773, distinguisliing each year. 
'* An account of all British plantation tobacco imported inta 

that part of Great Britain called England, from the year 
1760 to the 5th of January, 1774, and the quantity ex- 
ported from England in the same period, distinguishing- 
the exports and imports in each particular year, which is as. 
far as the same can be made up. 



62 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Feb. 3. An account of the value of exports and imports to and frona 
Noi'fh America and England, from Christmas, 1762, to 
Cliristnias, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made 
up. (listiiiguishing each colony and each year. 
' *' An account of the value of the exports and imports to and 

from the West Indies and England, from Christmas, 1762, 
to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing each island and each year. 
Feb. 13. An account of the value of all goods, wares, and merchandise, 
exported fronj that ])art of Groat Britain called Scotland, 
to the British colonies in North America, from Christ- 
mas, 1768, to Christmas, 1769, distinguishing each colony. 

<< An account of tiie value of all goods, wares, and merchandise, 

exported from tliat i)art of Great Britain called Scotland, 
to the British colonies in North America, from Christmas, 
1772, to Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing each colony. 

" An account of the drawbacks paid out of the ])roduce of the 

customs in Scotland, for the three years ending at October 
10, 1773, distinguishing each year. 

" An account of the value of the Scotch exj)orts and imports to 

and from the West Indies, from Christmas, 1762, to Christ- 
mas, 1773, being as far as the same can be made up, dis- 
tinguishing each island and each year. 

*' An account of t!ie value of the Scotch exports and imports to 

and from North America, from Christmas, 1762, to Christ- 
mas, 1773, being as far as the same can be made up, distin- 
guishing each colony and each year. 
Feb. 15. An account of the quantities of sugar imported into England 
from the British colonies and plantations, from Christmas, 
1762, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing each colony and each year. 

'' An account of the quaiitities of refined sugar and Muscovado 

sugar exported from England, fr-om Christmas, 1762, to 
Cbiistmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made 
up, distinguishing each year, and the quantities exported to 
North America, West Indies, and foreign ports. 

" An account of the amount and value of the imports from the 

British sugar colonies into England, from Chi-istmas, 1762, 
to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing each colony and each year. 

** A particular accoujit of the expense of collecting and manag- 

ing the revenue of customs in England for three years, 
ending Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each year. 
Feb. 17. An accoiint of the amount of the excise paid on rum imported 
from the West Indies for the last three years, distinguishing 
each year. 

** An account of the amount of the excise paid on coffee im- 

ported from the West Indies for the three last years, dis- 
tinguisiiing each year. 
Feb. 20. Aji account of all the corn, flour, and bread imported from 
North America into that jiart of Great Britain called Eng- 
land, from 5th of January, 1767, to 5th of January, 1774, 



[ Doc. Wo. 36. ] 



63 



whicli is as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing 
each kind of grain, and the quantity imported in each year. 
Feb. 20. An account of tiie value of the exiiorts and imports to and from 
the West Indies and England, from Chiistmas, 1739, to 
Christmas. 1762, distinguishing each year, and the value of 
British goods, wares, and merchandise, from foreign goods, 
wares, and merchandise. 
<< An account of the value of the exports and imports to and 

from Africa and England, from Christmas, 1739. to Christ- 
mas, 1773, distinguishing each year, and the value of Bri- 
tish goods, wares, and merchandise, from foreign goods, 
wares, and merchandise. 
Feb. 22. An account of the quantities of sugar imported into Scotland 
from the British colonies and plantations, from Christmas, 
1762, to Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing each colony and each year. 
« An acconnt of the quantities of Muscovado sugar and refined 

sugar exported from Scotland, from Christmas, 1762, to 
Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be made up, 
distinguishing each year, and the quantities exported to 
North America. 
« An account of the amount and value of the imports from the 

British sugar colonics into Scotland, from Christmas, 1762, 
to Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be made 
up, distinguishing each colony and each year. 
March 1. An account of all British plaiitation tobacco imported into that 
part of Great Britain called Scotland, from the year 1760 
to the year 1775, and the quantity exported from Scotland 
in the same period, distinguishing the exports and imports 
in each particular year. 
« A particular account of the expense of collecting and managing 

the revenue of customs in Scotland for three years, ending 
10th October, 1773, distinguishing each year. 
« An account of the quantity of corn and flour exported from 

that part of Great Britain called England to the sugar co- 
lonies, for ten years past, viz. from Christmas, 1763, to 
Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can be made up. 
« An account of the quantity of train oil and blubber impoited 

into England, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, 
which is as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing 
the countries from which the same have been imported. 
« An account of the quantity of i-ape seed and rape oil imported 

into England, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, 
which is as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing 
the countries from which the same have been imported. 
" An account of the value of goods exported from that part of 

Great Britain called England to Ireland, from Christmas, 
1772, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far as the same can 
be made u}). 
March 9. An account of the quantity of corn and flour exported from 
Scotland to the sugar colonies, for ten years preceding 
Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be made up^ 
distinguishing each year. 



64 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

March 9. An account of the value of goods exported from Scotland to 
Ireland, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, being 
as far as the same can be made up. 
" An account of the quantity of train oil and blubber imported 

into Scotland, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, 
being as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing the 
countries from \vhich the same have been imported. 
*< An account of the quantity of rape seed and rape oil imported 

into Scotland, from Christmas, 1772, to Christmas, 1773, 
being as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing the 
coujitries fiom which the same have been imported 

March 15. An account of the amount of the duties paid on coffee, sugar, 
and rum imported into England from the West Indies, for the 
three last years that can be made up, viz. from Christmas, 
1770, to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing the several articles. 
" An account of the amount of drawbacks paid on sugar, coffee, 

and rum exported from England, with the amount of the 
bounty paid on British refined sugar exported for the last 
three years that can be made up, viz. from Christmas, 
1770, to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing the several ar- 
ticles. 
*< An account of imports to the British sugar colonies from North 

America for three years last j)ast, distinguishing each year. 

March 16. A paper entitled «• Copy of the Petition and Memorial of the 
Assembly of Jamaica to the King in Council.'* 

March 29. An account of the quantity and value of silk, cotton, worsted, 
linen, and mixed hose, of English manufacture, exported to 
North America and the West Indies, from Christmas, 1772, 
to Christmas, 1774, distinguishing each year. 

April 10. An account of tonnage of all ships and vessels employed in the 
irade between Scotland and all the colonies in North Ame- 
rica and the West Indies, during the three last years, dis- 
tinguishing each year and each colony ; likewise, the tonnage 
of all ships and vessels employed in the trade with Africa : and 
" An account of the quantity and value of the silk, cotton, wor- 

sted, linen, and mixed hose, of English manufacture, exported 
to North America and the West Indies, from Christmas, 
1772, to Christmas, 1773, being as far as the same can be 
made up. 
'' Anaccount of the amount of the duties on rape seed imported into 

Scotland for five years last past, riz. fi-om 5th Jaimary, 
1770, to tlie 5th of January, 1775, as far as the same can be 
made up, distinguishing the quantity imported from Ireland, 
and distinguishing the amount of the duties in each year. 

April 12. An account of the (juantity of salt imported into the several 
British colonics of North America, from the 5th day of Ja- 
nuary, 1765, to the 8th <lay of September, 1767, distinguish- 
ing each colony and each year. 
" An account of the amount of the duties on rape seed imported 

into that part of Great Britain called England, for five years 
last past, as far as the same can be made up, distinguishing 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 65 

the quantity imported from Ireland, and distinguishing the 
amount of the duties in each year. 

April 12. An account of the imports from North America to the British 
West India islands for three years past, distinguishing each 
year, and from what provinces. 

April 27. Minutes of the examination of witnesses, taken before the Com- 
mittee of the AVhole House, to whom the bill to restrain the 
trade and commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay 
and New Hampshire, and the Colonies of Connecticut and 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in North Ame- 
rica, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British islands in 
the West Indies, and to prohibit such provinces and colo- 
nies from carrying on any fishery on the banks of New- 
foundland, or other places therein mentioned, under certain 
conditions, and for a time to be limited, was committed. 

March — . Minutes of examination of witnesses, taken before the Commit- 
tee of the Whole on the petition of the merchants, traders, and 
others, of the city of London, concerned in the commerce of 
North America, and of the several other petitions referred 
to the consideration of the same committee. 

Nov. 3. Petition of the merchants trading to the West Indies, setting 
forth the sufferings of the sugar colonies by reason of the 
present interruption of commerce with America, and praying 
relief. 
1776. 

Feb. 5. An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce 
of all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in 
North^America, from the 8th day of September, 1767, (the 
period of theestablisiimentof the Board of Customs in Ame- 
rica,) to the 5th day of January, 1768, so far as the accounts 
are received. 
<* An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce 

of all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in 
North America, from the 5th day of January, 1768, to the 
5th January, 1769, so far as the accounts are received. 
" An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce 

of all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in 
North America, from 5th January, 1769, to 5th January, 

1770, so far as the accounts are received. 

** An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce 

of all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in 
North America, from 5th January, 1770, to 5th January, 

1771, so far as the accounts are received. 

" An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce of 

all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in North 
America, from 5th January, 1771, to 5th January, 1772, so 
far as the accounts have been received. 

" An account of tlie gross receipts, payments, and nett produce of 

all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in North 
America, from 5th January, 1772, to 5th January, 1775, s© 
far as the accounts are received. 



66 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

Fefb. 5. An account of the gross receipts, payments, and nett produce 
of all the duties laid by act of Parliament, and payable in 
North America, from 5ll» January, 1773, to 5th January, 
1774, so far as the accounts are received. 

** An account of the ap])iication of the moneys arising from the 

duties collected and received in America, by act of Parlia- 
ment, from 7tfi Sej)tembcr, 1767, when the American revenue 
was placed under the management of the board at Boston, as 
far as the accounts have been received. 

*' An account of the gross and nett produce of all duties, laid by 

act of Parliament, on goods imported into Nova Scotia, from 
7th September, 1767, when the American revenue was placed 
under the management of tlie board at Boston, to 5th Jan- 
uary, 1773, so far as the same have been received. 

*' An account of the expense of the revenue establishment in 

Nova Scotia, from 8th September, 1767, when the American 
revenue was ])laced under the management of the Board at 
Boston, to 5tli January, 1773, so far as the accounts thereof 
have been received. 
May 8. Copy of a letter from Lord George Germaine to the Lords of 
the Admiralty, dated 7th February, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, Deputy 

Secretary of the Admiralty, dated 15th March, 1776. 

<< Copy of a letter front Mr. Robinson to the Commissioners of 

the Customs, dated I5lh March, 1776. 

« Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, Deputy 

Secretary of the Admiralty, dated 23d March, 1776. 

*' Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, Deputy 

Secretary of the Admiralty, dated 23d March, 1776. 

« Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, Deputy 

Secretary of the Admiralty, dated 23d March, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, Deputy 

Secretary of the Admiralty, dated 26th March, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Sir Grey Cooper to Mr. Merry, dated 

26th January, 1776. 

** Copy of a letter from Sir Grey Cooper to Mr. Merry, dated 

24th February, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Sir Grey Cooper to Mr. Merry, dated 

28th February, 1776. 

** Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Lord Barrington, dat- 

ed 24th March, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Lord Barrington to Mr. Robinson, dat- 

ed 28th March, 1776. 

** Copy of a letter from Mr. Pownall to Mr. Robinson, dated Sd 

April, 1776, with two enclosures. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Jackson, dated 4th 

April. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Pownall, dated 

4th April. 

" Copy of minute of Treasury Board, of 15th March, 1776. 

** Copy of minute of Treasury Board, of 22d March, 1776. 



[ Doc. No. 36. j 67 



May 8. Copy of minute of Treasury Board, of 26th March, 1776. 

" Copy of minute of I'l'easury Board, of 29Ui Marcli, 1776. 

*' Copy of njinutc of Treasury Board, of 3d Ajjril, 1776. 

*' Copy of contract with Sir James Cockburn, dated 2d May, 

1776, for furnishing 100,000 gallons of rum for the army 
in America. 

<* Copy of a contract with James Bogle French, Esq., dated 2d 

May, 1776, for furnishing 100,000 gallons of rum for the 
army in America. 
May 22. Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 
sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 27th De- 
cember, 1775. 

^' Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 11 th Jan- 
uary, 1776. 

** Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 12th 

January, 1776. 

^< Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 15th 

January, 1776. 

■<< Coj)y of a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Jackson, dated 17th 

January, 1776. 

<< Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to the Commissioners of 

the Customs, dated 24th January, 1776, with forms of 
licenses. 

<* Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 26th January, 

1776. 

" Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 22d Feb- 
ruary, 1776. 

*' Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the 

Treasury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 27th 
February, 1776. 

<< Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 8th March, 
1776. 

<* Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 12th March, 

1776. 

*' Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to the Commissioners of 

the Customs, dated ISth March, 1776. 

<' Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 15th 

March, 1776. 

*' Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 19th March, 

1776. 

<< Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 20th 
March, 1776. 

<* Copy of a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Jackson, dated 20th 

March, 1776. 

^< Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 29th March, 

1776. 

<* Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 29th March, 

1776. 



68 [ Doc. No. 36. j 

May 22. Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 29th 
March, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Jackson, dated 29th 

March, 1776, with two accounts. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 30th 

March, 1776. 

" Copy of a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Stanley, dated 30th 

March, 1776. 

*< Copy of a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Jackson, dated 2d 

April, 1776. 

" Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 2d April, 

1776. 

** Copy of a warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

sury to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 3d April, 
1776. 

^' Copy of a letter from Sir Grey Cooper to the Commissioners 

of the Customs, dated 11th April, 1776. 

" Copy of a minute of the Board of Customs, dated 12th April, 

1776. 

" Copy of a letter from the collector and comptroller of Milford 

to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated 2d May, 1776, 
with five licenses. 

** Copies of entries made at the custom-house in pursuance of 

licenses from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 

" An account of goods shipped in pursuance of licenses. 

*' List of out-ports, with the dates of returns, and when received. 

'' A paper entitled "Port of London, 22d May, 1776, Report 

from the officers in the Long Room." 
May *— , Examination of witnesses before the Committee of the Whole 
House, appointed to incpiire into the use which the Commis- 
sioners of the Admiralty have made of the power to grant 
licenses to sucli ships and vessels as shall he actually retain- 
ed or employed in his Majesty's service, &c. &c. 

17f4. Papers presented to the House of Lords. 

March 26. Petition of Stephen Sayer and others, natives of North Ame- 
rica, against the Boston jjort bill. 
April 15. Letter from Governor Bernard to the Lords of Trade, dated 
Boston, 7th July, 1766. 

« Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 

Boston, 7th February, 1767, with enclosures. 

" Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 

Boston, 21st February, 1767. 

'< Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 

Boston, 21st March, 1768. 

** Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, SOth May, 1768. 

** Answer of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay 

to the Governor's message, the SOth of June, 1768. 

'' Printed account of the associations at Boston, and the proceed- 

ings in consequence thereof. 

'* Letter from Sir Francis Bernard, Baronet, to the Earl of 

Hillsborough, dated Boston, 1st June, 1769. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 69 



April 15. Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 
dated Boston, 11th July, 1769, with an enclosure. 
<< Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, 27th March, 1770, with an enclosure. 
<< Letters from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, 27th April and 21st May, 1770. 
*< Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, 6th July, 1771, with a copy of his message to 
the House of Representatives, and of the answer of the said 
House. 
*' Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, 28th November, 1771, with enclosures. 
** Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Hillsborough, 

dated Boston, 29th May, 1772, with an enclosure. 
'< Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, £3d October, 1772. 
<< Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, 30th October, 1772, with enclosures. 
<* Letter fiom Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, Sd November, 1772. 
<' Printed copy of the votes and proceedings of the freeholders 

and inhabitants of the town of Boston. 
** Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, 22d February, 1773. 
** Copy of the speeches of Governor Hutchinson to the General 

Assembly of Massachusetts Bay, with the answers of the 
Council and House of Representatives. 
*f Copy of the petition and remonstrance from the House of 

Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, 14th 
July, 1772. 
<< Copy of petition to the King, from the House of Representa- 

tives of Massachusetts Bay, dated 6th March, 1773. 
<< Letter from Governor Hutchinson to the Earl of Dartmouth, 

dated Boston, 14th February, 1774; received 5th April ; 
enclosing — 

Copy of Governor Hutchinson's speech to the Council 

and House of Representatives, and their answer. 
Copy of requisition from the House of Representatives of 
Massachusetts Bay to the Judges of the Superior Court. 
Copy of a remonstrance of th,e House of Representatives of 

Massachusetts Bay against the Chief Justice. 
Copy of the vote of the Council and House of Representa- 
tives of Massachusetts Bay, for adjourning the Superior 
Court ; not consented to by the Governor. 
Copy of Governor Hutchinson's answer to the remon- 
,, strance of the House of Representatives against the 

Chief Justice. 
May 6. Copy of instructions from his Majesty to Guy Carleton, Esq., 
Governor of Quebec, respecting the granting of lands in that 
province, dated 12th August, 1768, and the 2d of July, 1771. 
" Copy of his Majesty's instructions to the Governors of Nova 

Scotia, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, North Care- 



70 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

lina, South Carolina, Georgia, East Florida, and West 
Florida, respecting the granting of lands in those provinces, 
dated 3d Febriiai'y, 1774. 

May 6. An account of exports from England to Jamaica, for seven 
years preceding the late war, distinguishing each year, viz. 
from Christmas, 1748, to Christmas, 1755. 
<< An account of exports from Eiigland to Jamaica, for seven 

years, since tlie establishment of the free port act, viz. 
from Ciiristmas, 1766, to Christmas, 1773, which is as far 
as the same can be made up, distinguishing each year. 

May 10. Petition of several persons, natives of America, whose names 
arc thereunto subsciihed, against two hills, entitled *' An act 
for better regulating the government of the Province of 
the Mass.ichusetts Bay, in New England;" and ''An act 
for the impartial administration of justice in the cases of per- 
sons questioned for any acts done by them in the execution 
of the law, or for the suppression of riots atid tumults in the 
Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England." 
" Petition of William BoUan, Esq., agent for the Counc^il of his 

Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, 
against a bill entitled •» An act for the better regulating the 
government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in 
New England." 

May 18. Petition of William Bollan, Esq., agent for the Council of his 
Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New Eng- 
land, against a bill entitled " An act for the impartial 
administration of justice, in the cases of persons questioned 
for any act done by tliem in the execution of the law, or for 
the suppression of riots and tumults in the Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England. 
1775. 

Feb. 20. An account of the value of the exports and imports to and 
from Africa and Enghuid, from Christmas, 1739, to Christ- 
mas, 1773, distinguishing each year, and the value of 
British goods, wares, and merchandise, from foreign goods, 
wares, and merchandise. 
<« Also, an account of the quantity and value of tobacco exported 

from England to foreign countiies, from Christmas, 1769, 
to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each year and each 
country. 
*< And, also, an account of the quantity and value of all tobacco 

imported into England from the British plantations in 
America, from Christmas, 1769, to Christmas, 1773, dis- 
tinguishing each year and eacli plantation. 

March 3. Ati account of the value of exports and imports to and from 
North America and England, from Christmas, 1739, to 
Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each colony and year, and 
British goods, wares, and merchajidisc, from foreign. 
" Also, an account of the value of exports and imports to and 

from the West Indies and England, from Christmas, 1739, 
to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each island and year, 
and British goods, wares, and merchandise, from foreign. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 



71 



March 8, 
March 15. 



March 17. 
March 22. 



Nov. 20. 



1776. 
April 19. 



An account of the nett produce of the duties and customs on 
tobacco in England, from Christmas, 1769, to Christmas, 
1774, distinguishing each year. 

Petition of the Lord Mayoi-, Aldermen, and Commons of the 
city of London in common council assembled, against a hill 
depending in this House, entitled " An act to restrain the 
trade and commerce of the Province of Massaciuisetts Bay 
and New Hampshire, and colonies of Connecticut and 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in North Ame- 
rica, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British islands in 
the West Indies :" and to prohibit such provinces and 
colonies from carrying on any fishery on the banks of New- 
foundland or other ]>laces therein mentioned, under certain 
conditions and limitations. 

Petition of the merchants, traders, and others, of the city of 
London, interested in the American commerce, whose names 
are thereunto subscribed; likewise, against the last mentioned 
hill. 

An account of the nett produce of duties and customs on tobacco 
in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, from October, 
1769, to October, 1774, distinguishing each year. 

An account of the (piantity and value of all tobacco imported 
into that part of Great Britain called Scotland, from the 
British plantations in America, from October, 1769, to 
October, 1774, distinguishing each year and each plantation. 

An account of the quantity and value of all tobacco exported 
from that part of Great Britain called Scotland, to other 
countries, from October, 1769, to October, 1774, distin- 
guishing each ycai' and each country. 

An account of what number of ships from Scotland have been 
employed in the wlialc fishery to Davis's straits and the 
Greenland seas, with their respective names and burdens, 
from whence fitted out, and at what port they were dis- 
charged : also, wiiat quantity of oil and whale fins each ship 
has imported, from the 10th of October, 1774, to the 10th of 
October, 1775. 

Also, an account of the value of expoi'ts and imports to and 
from North America and Scotland, from Christmas, 1739, 
to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each colony and year, 
and British goods, wares, and merchandise, from foreign. 

And, also, an account of the value of exports and imports to 
and from the West Indies and Scotland, from Christmas, 
1739, to Christmas, 1773, distinguishing each island and 
each year, and British goods, wares, and merchandise, from 
foreign. 

A list of all ships which have been entered in the port of 
London, for any part of North America, under license 
granted by the Lords of the Admiralty, pursuant to the act 
of the present session. 

A list of goods entered outward in the ship City of London, 
for Boston, in pursuance of a license from the Lords Com- 
missioners of the Admiralty. 



72 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

April 19. Also, a list of goods entered outwards in the ship Renown, for 
Boston, in pursuance of a license from the Lords Commis- 
sioners of the Admiralty. 
*' And, also, an account of the goods actually shipped on board 

the Renown. 
. " And, also, an account of the goods actually shipped on board 

the City of London. 
April 29. Copies of all licenses granted by the commissioners for ex- 
ecuting the office of Lord High Admiralty of Great Britain, 
for exporting provisions to America, since the passing the 
act to prohibit all trade and intercourse therewith. 
** Also, copies of all licenses granted for transports, victuallers, 

and ordnance store-ships since the act aforementioned. 



C. 

Petitions, letters, reports, ^c, referred to on the Journal of Congress, from 

September, 1774, to July, 1776. 
When presented. Date. 

1774. 1774. 

Sept. 28. Mr. Galloway's motion and plan for conciliation 

with Great Britain. 
Oct. 6. Letter from Committee of Correspondence, Boston. Sept. 29. 
Oct. 14. Letter from several gentlemen in Georgia. 
Oct. 22. Address from Christopher Tully. 

1775. 
May llo Letter from General Gage to Lord Dartmouth. Dec. 15. 
" Resolutions passed by Commons in Committee of 1775. 

the Whole. Feb. 2. 

■*' Lord Chatham's motion to withdraw troops from 

Boston. Jan. 20. 

<< Lord Chatham's bill for settling troubles, &c. Feb. 1. 

May 13. Petition from Frederick county, Virginia. 
May 15. Application of New York, through the delegates 
of that pi'ovince. 
<< Memorial of Samuel Shoemaker, merchant. 

<< Memorial of James & Drinker, merchants. 

May 16. Memorial from Robert and John Murray, of New 

York. 
May 18. Letters relating to surprise &c., of Ticonderoga. 

*' Mr. Brown's statement (capture of Ticonderoga.) 

May 19. Report of committee on defence of New York. 

*' Letter from Governor Trumbull to General Gage. April 28. 

'< Answer of General Gage to Governor Trumbull. May 3. 

May 27. Letter from Provincial Congress of New Jersey, 

asking advice, &c. May 25. 

" Account of the state of affairs in Canada. 

May 30. Letter from Colonel Arnold, Crown Point. May 23. 

<< Letter from President of Congress to Governor 

Trumbull. 
<< Letter from President of Congress to convention of 

New York. 



f Doc. No. 36. J 73 



June 1. Report of committee appointed to consider ways 
and means to supply arms, &c. 

" Petition from committee of Augusta county, Vir- 

ginia. 
June 2. Letter from Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. May 16. 

<' Statement of Dr. Church. 

<< Letters from Massachusetts convention. 

*< *' New Hampshire convention. 

*' « Governor Trumbull. 

June 3. Letter from convention of New York, enclosing — 

Sundry letters and papers from Albany. 
June r. Report of committee on estimate of money to be 
raised. 

*< Report of committee on letter of May 16, from 

Massachusetts. 
June 10. Sundry letters — from Massachusetts Bay. 

" " " Ticonderoga. 

« " « Crown Point, &c. 

*' Report of committee on Gov. Skene's letters, &c. 

June 14. Letter from New York convention. June 10. 

June 15. Report on letter from New York, of 10th instant. 
June 16. Letter from New York convention. 
June 19. Letters from Massachusetts Bay. 

" Letters from New York. 

<* Form of commissions for the majors and brigadier 
generals. 
June 21. Queries put by General Washington to Congress. 
June 22. Report of committee on the queries of the General. 
June 2S. Letter from. Crown Point. June 10. 

June 26. Letter from Governor Trumbull. 

*' State of affairs in North Carolina. 

*< Report of Committee on Indian Affairs. 

June 27. Letter from convention of Massachusetts Bay. June 20. 

" State of affairs in the New York department. 

June 30. A number of letters and speeches from Stockbridge 

Indians. 
July 1. Letters from General Schuyler. 

" Answer to letters from General Schuyler. 

July 3. Sundry letters. 
July 5. Several letters. 

'• Letter from Congress to Governor Trumbull. 

July 10. Examination of a gentleman — Indian affairs. 

*' Report of Committee on the Militia. 

<< Address from deputies of Bermuda. 

July 12. Examination of a gentleman from Quebec. 

'' Letters from Governor Ceoke. 

" " General Ward. 

July 15. Sundry intercepted letters. 
July 17. Letter from General Schuyler. 
July 19. Letter from General Washington, with sundry pa- 
pers enclosed. 
July 20. Despatches from General Schuyler. 
6 



74 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Letter from convention of Georgia. 
July 21. Sketch of articles of confederation, submitted by 
Dr. Franklin. 
<« Report of committee on protecting trade of the colo- 

nies. 
July 25. Report of committee on establishing a hospital. 
a «' «* on establishing a post. 

a « «' on Lord North's motion. 

July 29. ** " form of bond of continental 

treasurer. 
<< Two petitions respecting disputes between the peo- 

ple of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, on lands 
lying on the Susquehannah. 
July 31. Petition from sundry merchants in New York. 

<' sundry merchants in Philadelphia. 

Sept. 13. Letters Nos. 4 and 5, with sundry enclosed papers 
from General Washington. 
*' Letter from General Schuyler."^ July 16» 

it *< « 'with sundry July 21. 

a a " [papers enclosed. Aug. 2. 

(( a "J -^"S* 31» 

*< Letter from L. Morris and J. Wilson. Sept. 6. 

*' Letter from G. Bedford, with sundry papers en- 

closed. 
" Letter from deputies of several districts of Ber- 

muda. Aug. 12. 

<< Memorial from James Stewart and Samuel Jack- 

son. 
« Memorial from committee of Westmoreland, Penn- 

sylvania. 
Sept. 14. Letter from Joseph Hawley, 
*t <' Elisha Phelps. 

a ♦< J. Reade, Sec'y to Gen. Washington. 

i( it Committeeof Safety of New York, &c. 

t' Sundry letters from Gen. Schuyler. 

" Sundry papers submitted by delegates from 

Georgia. 
<< Treaty with the Six Nations of Indians at Albany. August. 

Sept. 16. Letter 6, and one not numbered, from Gen. Wash- 
ington. 
Sept. 18. Letters from Gen, Schuyler. Sept. 8. 

Sept. 19. Authentic account of intelligence received from 
Gen. Schuyler, ordered to be published by the 
Secretary. 
Sept. 20. Letter to Provincial Congress of New York. 

<< Letter to Gen. Schuyler from Congress. 

Sept. 22. Two letters from Committee of Safety, New York, 
with sundry paj)crs enclosed. 
" Letter from Mr. Morris and Mr. Wilson, Pitts- 

burg. Sept. 14. 

Sept. 25. liCttcr fiom Gen. \N'ashington, (not numbered.) 
Sept. 27. Memorial of Samuel and Robert Purviance. 



f Doc. No. 36. ] 75 



Sept. 27. Resolutions of committee of Philadelphia. 
Sept. 29. Letter from Gen. Washington, with sundry en- 
closures. Sept, 21. 
Sept. 30. Letter to Gen. Washington. 

" Council of Massachusetts Bay. 

" Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. 

<< President of New Hampshire conven- 

tion. 
" Governor of Connecticut. 

Oct. 2. Instructions to committee to wait on Commander 

in chief at Cambridge. 
Oct. 3. Instructions to delegates for Rhode Island. Aug. 26. 

Oct. 1. Report of committee on trade of America. 
Oct. 5. Sundry letters from London. 

<' Report of committee on intercepting two vessels. 

<< Letter to Gen. Washington. 

*' '' Council of Massachusetts Bay. 

*' << Governor Cooke. 

*' " Governor Trumbull. 

Oct. 6. Letter from Gen. Schuyler, ") veith sundry papers Sept. 25. 
*' << " J enclosed. Sept. 28. 

*•' <* New York, on defence of Highlands. 

** Further report of committee on intercepting vessels. 
Oct. 9. Letter from Gen. Schuyler, enclosing a letter from 

Gen. Montgomery, and sundry other papers. Sept. 19. 
Oct. 10. Answer to Gen. Schuyler's letters reported by 

committee. 
Oct. 13. Letter from Gen. Washington, with sundry papers 

enclosed. Oct. 5. 

Oct. 16. Letter from New Jersey convention. Oct. 13. 

" " " Oct. 14. 

" ** Mr. J. Macpherson. 

" " Gen. Schuyler, with sundry papers 

enclosed. Oct. 5. 

Oct. 17. Report of committee to prepare an estimate, &c. 

*' Letter from Governor Cooke. Oct. 9. 

** ♦ ' President to convention of New York. 

Oct. 18. Report of committee 'on memorials from sundry 
merchants in New York and Philadelphia. 
" Instructions to delegates from New Hampshire. 

•* Just and well authenticated account of the hos- 

tilities committed by the ministerial troops, &c. 
Oct. 19. Report of committee on supplying the army with 
provisions. 
<* Petition from Mr. Sears and Mr. Randall. 

*< Letter to Gen. Washington, sent by Capt. Mac- 

pherson. 
Oct. 20. Letter to Gen. Washington. 

Oct. 23. Credentials of delegates from Delaware. Oct. 21. 

Oct. 25. Letters from General Washington. 
** *< Gov. Trumbull. 

'* ** convention of New York. 



Oct. 


26. 


Oct. 


25. 




i( 


Oct. 


27. 


Oct. 


28. 





« 




<< 


Nov. 


. 3. 


Nov. 


. 4. 




u 




*i 




<< 




ii 


Nov 


. r. 




<< 



76 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

Oct. 25. Answer to letters from New Jersey, of 13th and 
14th instants. 
Letter from New York convention. Oct. 20. 

Instructions of Gen. Gage to Capt. Campbell and 

Lieut. Symes. 
Sundry examinations taken and submitted to 

Congress. 
Answer to convention of New York. 
Further examinations of soldiers with Campbell 
and Symes. 
Oct. 30. Report of committee to prepare an estimate, and 
lit out vessels. 
Letter from W. Livingston. Oct. 18. 

Oct. 31. Letter from Gen. Schuyler,"^ Oct. 6. 

*' « 'with sundry papers Oct. 13. 

<« « f enclosed. Oct. 14. 

*' « J Oct. 19. 

Nov. 1. Letter from Gen. Washington. 

<' Letter from committee of conference, with mi- 

nutes of their proceedings. 
jNov. 2. Petition of inhabitants of a district in Nova 
Scotia. 
" Memorial from Committee of Safety of Pennsyl- 

vania. 
*i Letter from Mr. Bedford, Deputy Muster Master 

General, with sundry muster rolls. 
<* Report of committee on instructions to delegates 

for New Hampshire. 
Petition from John Raigs, of Bermuda. 
Further report of committee from Cambridge — 

(of conference.) 
Sundry papers relative to South Carolina. 
Letter from General Schuyler, ) with sundry 

<' General Montgomery, ) papers. 

Articles of capitulation of Fort Chambly. 
Report of committee on disputes between Connec- 
ticut and Pennsylvania. 
Report of committee on affairs of South Carolina. 
Letter from General Washington, No. 11. 
Report of committee on state of affairs in New 
York. 
Nov. 9. Letter from tlie agents in London. 

<' Report of committee on Nova Scotia petition. 

Letter to Governor Cooke. 
Report of committee on promoting manufacture of 

saltpetre. 
Petition from Charles Wharton. 
Petition from James Loughhead. 

Letter from Volkert P. Douw. Nov. 6. 

Treaty of commissioners for Northern Depart- 
ment, with Indians, at Albany. 
Petition from Murray, Sansom, and others. 



Nov. 


. 10. 




<( 


Nov. 


. 11. 




n 




it 




a 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 77 

Nov. 11. Petition from Jasper Griffing. 
Nov. IS, Letter from General Washington, with sundry 
papers. 
T .. P i-. 1 o 1 1 ") with account of 

Nov. 15. Letter from General Schuyler, / surrender of 

Gen. Montgomery, J g^^ j^,^,^,^^ 

«< Proposal from Nathaniel Sacket for making salt- 

petre. 
Nov. 16. Sundry papers from the General Assembly of the 

colony of Massachusetts Bay. 
Nov. 17. Letter from General Washington, enclosing — 
Letter and Journal of Colonel Arnold, and 
Sundry papers. 
Nov. 20. Sundry letters from General Washington and Go- 
vernor Trumbull, with papers enclosed. 
«< Petition from Godfred Fehr. 

<< Petition from Meichior Neff. 

<' Captain John Hulbert's report of his proceedings. 

Nov. 22. Report of committee on Volkert P. Douw's letter. 
Nov. 23. Report ofcommittee on GeneralWashington's letter. 
<' Information from Committee of Inspection for 

Philadelphia. 
Nov. 24. Despatches to colony agents in England. 
" Report of committee on intercepted letters. 

<< Petition from Downhani Newton. 

" Petition from Dugal McGregor. 

« Report of committee on the State of the Treasury. 

Letter from General Washington,. enclosing— Nov. 19. 
'' Colonel Arnold. Oct. 27. 

Report ofcommittee on North Carolina. 
Letter from General Schuyler, containing, &c. 
Report of committee on petition of Downham 

Newton. 
Letter to the agents. 

Report of committee on the proclamations. 
Sundry letters from General Schuyler. 
« W. Livingston. 

*' committee sent to the North- 

ward. 
Letter from committee of Fredericktown, Md. 
Letter from committee of Northampton, Va., with 

sundry papers enclosed. 
Form of commission for commanders of ships of 

war. 
Report ofcommittee (m state of Virginia. 
Letter from Lord Sterling, with sundry papers en- 
closed. 
Report of committee on recaptures. 
Memorial from Colonel Bull. 

Letter from General Washington. Nov. 28. 

'' Lord Sterling. Dec. 6. 

« General Schuyler. Nov. 22o 

« General Montgomery. Nov. 17. 



Nov. 


27. 




a 


Nov. 


28. 


Nov. 


29. 




n 




a 




ti 


Nov. 


30. 




u 




a 


Dec. 


1. 


Dec. 


2. 




ti 


Dec. 


4. 


Dec. 


5. 




(< 


Dec 


6. 




11 


Dec 


7. 



78 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

Dec. 7. Letter from Colonel Arnold. Nov. 14. 

Dec. 8. Report of committee on petition of Capt. Jenkins. 

on letter fi'om Fi-edericktown, Md. 
" Petition of Jonathan Hudson. 

'* Report of committee on establishing expresses. 

Dec. 9. Mir)utes of proceedings of Commissioners for In- 
dian Affairs in Middle Department. 
Dec. 11. Letter from General Washington, with papers en- 
closed. Nov. 30. 
" Report ofcommittee on ])artofLord Sterling's letter. 
<< Letter from New York convention. Dec. 7. 
" Petition from Mr. Phelps. 
" Petition from David Beveridge. 
<< Letter from Commissioners for Indian Affairs, 
Southern Department, enclosing sundry papers. 
" Report of committee on the credit of paper cur- 
rency. 
1)gc. 12. Intercepted letters of Brooke Watson. 

<< Sundry letters relative to cargo of brig Nancy. 

Letter from committee of Trenton. 
Letters of thanks to the general officers in the 

Northern army. 
Reportof committee on General Schuyler's letters. 
Letter from Gen. Washington, enclosing sundry 

papers. Dec. 4. 

Petition from Peter Berlon. 
Instructions for committee to meet during recess. 
Report of committee relative to transports. 
Letter fiom General Washington. Dec. 7. 

Letter from New York convention. Dec. 9. 

Report of committee appointed to confer with Cap- 
tain Mott. 
Petition from sundry merchants of Philadelphia. 
Report of committee on petition of Mr. Beveridge. 
Report of committee appointed to confer with Ma- 
jor Preston. 

" Papers relative to the disturbances at Wyoming be- 

tween the people of Connecticut and Pennsylva- 
nia. 
" Letters from General Schuyler, with sundry letters 

£\nd papers enclosed. 
Dec. 19. Report ofcommittee on qualification of otBcers. 
♦* Report of committee on state of Virginia. 

" Letter from General ^A ashington. 

Dec. 22. Letter from General Schuyler. Dec. 14. 

*' '< Lord Sterling. Dec. 14. 

<* '' Caj)tain Livingston. 

« Examination of ConolJy, and others taken with 

him. 
Dec. 23. Letter from Lord Sterling. Dec. 19. 

<' Petition from Seth Paddock and Sylvanus Coffin. 

^* Report of committee appointed to repair to Ticon- 

deroga. 





ti 




a 




(( 


Dec. 


. 13. 


Dec. 


, 14. 


Dec. 


. 15. 




(( 


Dec. 


, 16. 




(( 




it 




it 




it 


Dec. 


, 18. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 79 



Dec. 23. Report of committee appointed to confer with the 
Indians. 
" Report of Committee on the state of the Treasury. 

Dec. £6. Letter from General Washington. Dec. 14. 

« « «< " Dec. 16. 

<« f Dr. Morgan. 

<* " Governor Trumbull, with resolutions 

of Assembly. Dec. 20. 

** Letter from sundry masters of vessels, Guadaloupe. Sept. 19. 

** Report of committee appointed to prepare instruc- 

tions to Lieut. Col. Irvine. 
Dec. 27. Letter from Committee of Inspection of Lancaster. Dec. 21. 
Dec. 28. Report of secret committee. 

*' Report of committee on petition of Captains Pad- 

dock and Cotfin. 
Dec. 29. Petition of Captain Sellick. 

'< Petition of a number of inhabitants of Pennsyl- 
vania. 
** Report of committee on Indian trade. 

" Report of committee on Lord Sterling's letters. 

** Letter from Committee of Correspondence of Vir- 

ginia. Dec. 16. 

Dec. SO. Letter from General Washington. Dec. 19. 

<< « <« « enclosing letter 

to General Howe, with a number of intercepted 
letters. Dec. 21. 

<< Letter from General Schuyler. Dec. 21. 

<' Letter from General Washington. Dec. 14. 

Report of committee on Captain Sellick's petition. 
Report of committee on the petition of sundry mer- 
chants of Philadelphia. 

Report of committee on intercepted letters. 
Letter from Governor Trumbull. Dec. 23. 

Letter to General Schuyler. 
Report of committee on the state of New York. 
Report of committee on Lord Sterling's letters. 
Further report of committee on state of New York. 
Letter from committee of Fredericktown, Md. 
Letter from General Washington, with sundry pa- 
pers enclosed. Dec. 25. 
Report of committee on allowance to prisoners. 
Conference with the gentlemen sent by convention 
of New York. 
<* Memorial from inhabitants of Newport, (papers.) 

1776. 
Jan. 6. Letter from committee of Lancaster. Jan. 3. 

1775. 
<< Letter from an officer in Lisbon. Oct. 23. 

<' Letters formerly received from Lisbon. 





ti 




ti 


1776 


Jan. 


1. 




u 


Jan. 


2. 




it 




a 


Jan. 


3. 




iS 




n 


Jan 


4. 


Jan. 


5. 



80 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Jan. 6. Further report of committee on General Scliuyler's 
letters. 
" Letter from General Schuyler, enclosing — Dec. 30, 

" General Woostcr. 

'' General Montgomery. 

Jan. 8. Letter from General Schuyler, enclosing — Dec. 26. 

** General Montgomery. Dec. 5. 

List of ordnance sent to Cambridge. 
Letter from Baltimore, with affidavit of Cap- 
tain Horn. 
Jan. 9. Letter from Mr. M. Tilghman, with sundry pa- 
pers enclosed, 
« Despatches from Governor Franklin,') . ^ , , 

V " Letter from Cortland Skinner, j intercepted. 

Jan. 10. Letter from Rache Stelle. 

" Report of committee on facilitating the march of 

the battalions destined for Canada. 
Jan. 11. Report of committee on the bills of credit issued by 
this Congress. 
" Representation of field officers of the Pennsylvania 

battalions. 
Jan, 12, Memorial from field officers of first Pennsylvania 
battalion. 

1776. 
Jan. 13. Letter from General Washington. Jan. 4. 

<' Letter from Committee of Safety of New York. Jan. 3. 

" Report of secret committee on purchase of salt- 
petre. 
Jan. 15. Letter from General Washington, with sundry pa- 1775. 

pers enclosed. . Dec. 31, 

1776, 
" Letter from Lord Sterling, Jan. 8. 

" *' « Jan. 11. 

<* Letter from Governor Trumbull, with three papers 

enclosed. 
" Letter from Committee of Safety of New York. Jan. 11. 

Jan, 16. Letter from Mr. Lewis. Jan. 8. 

<* Application on behalf of Mr. Judge, &c. 

*< Report of the committee on the state of the colonics, 

•< Report of committee appointed to procure powder 

from Providence. 
" Report of committee on General Washington's let- 

ters. 
Jan. 17. Petition of Dr. B. Church. 
" Petition from Ibbetson Hamar. 

" Memorial of captains and subalterns of first Penn- 

sylvania battalion. 
" Report of committee to prepare instructions for of- 

ficers in the recruiting service. 
<< Letter from General Schuyler, enclosing — Jan. IS. 

" ** General Wooster. 

" " Colonel Arnold, and others. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 81 



Jan. 


20. 




a 




i( 




li 


Jan. 


22. 




<t 



Jan. 17. Report of committee on engaging of seamen by 

South Carolina. 
Jan. 18, Report of committee on petition of Dr. Church. 
*< Letter from committee of Fredericktown, Md., en- 

closing sundry intercepted letters found on Dr. 
John Smith. 
Jan. 19. Report of committee on letters from Lancaster. 
« Letter from President to General AVashington. 

** Report of committee on complaints of officers, and 

defence of Colonel Bull. 
" Report of committee on General Schuyler's letter 

of the 13th, with the letters and papers en- 
closed. 
Memorial from Colonel Bull. 
Further report of committee on General Schuy- 
ler's letter of the 13th. 
Letter from President to General Schuyler. 

" *' to General Washington. 

Letter from General Washington. Jan. \\> 

*' Lord Sterling. Jan. 18. 

« « «< Jan. 19. 

« << General Schuyler. Jan. 10. 

<< « committee of Trenton, New Jersey. Jan. 19. 

'< Petition from John Sparling. 

« Memorial from Duncan Campbell. 

Jan. 23. Letter from General Schuyler, enclosing — Jan. 14, 

*' *' General Arnold. 

Jan. 24. Letter from committee of Trenton, New Jersey. Jan. 23, 
" Account of repulse of our troops at Quebec, De- 

cember 31, 1775, prepared by Secretary. 
" Letter to inhabitants of Canada. 

Jan. 25. Letter from committee of Trenton. Jan. 23. 

<< << Ibbetson Hamar. Jan. 23. 

" << Dr. Richard Huddleston. Jan. 23. 

" " committee of Lancaster. 

" « Colonel Maxwell. 

" <' General Washington. Jan. 14, 

'* Report of committee appointed to examine Gene- 

ral Prescott. 
Jan. 26. Letter from General Lee, enclosing — Jan. 22. 

" " Committee of Safety of New York. 

*' Petition from sundry persons respecting enlistment 

of apprentices. 
" Letter from Pittsburg, (with enclosed papers.) Jan. 15. 
Ja». 27. " General Washington. Jan. 19. 

** <•= committee of Trenton, New Jersey. Jan. 24. 

^ " Lord Sterling. Jan. 25. 

^ '< T. Lowry. Jan. 24. 

"\ Memorial from H. Keppell and John Steinmetz. 
** Report of committee on letter of V. P. Douw, and 
treaty with Indians at Albany. 
Jan. 29. Letter from Gov. Trumbull. Jan. 20. 



82 [ Doc. No. 36. J 

Jan. 29. Report of committee on letters of 19tli from Gene- 
ral Washington, of 24tli from Lord Sterling, 
and of 24tli from committee of Trenton. 

" Petition from Dr. Wlieelock. 

<< Memorial and proposal of Captain Jolin Nelson. 

Jan. 30. Report of committee to confer with Captain Nel- 
son. 

** Report of committee on enlistment of apprentices. 

<* '' <' on General Washington's let- 

ter of 14th instant. 
Jan. 31. Letter from Lord Sterling. Jan. 27. 

'' << committee of Trenton. Jan. 30. 

« «< Colonel St. Clair. Jan. 9.7. 

" '' Col. Maxwell. Jan. 31. 

" Report from Dr. Cadwalader and Dr. Shippen. 

" Report of committee on sundry letters referred on 

the 27th instant. 

« Report of committee to confer with Colonel Max- 

well. 
Feb. 2. Letter from General Schuyler. Jan. 22, 

'* '< '' accompanied with^ Jan. 25. 

*' Account of expedition to Tryon county. 

*< Sundry despatches from Canada, and other 

papers. 

** Letter from Colonel Wayne. 

<* Report of committee on memorial of M. Ashden. 

" Report of committee on memorial of Keppell and 

Steinmetz. 

<* Memorial of Rev. Samson Occum. 

Feb. 5. Report of committee on General Schuyler's letters. 

*' General Schuyler's narrative of his march into 

Tryon county. 

" Report of committee on memorial of Rev. Mr. 

Occum. 

" Letter from Dr. Cadwalader. 

Feb, 6. Letter from Committee of Safety for New York. 

*< Petition from sundry captains of the New Jersey 

battalions. 

<< Letter from committee of Reading, Berks county, 

Pennsylvania. 

" Report of committee on regulations of trade, after 

1st of March next. 

*' Report of committee appointed to confer with Col- 

onel Heard — (oaths taken on Long Island.) 
Feb. 7. Letter from Lord Sterling, ) with sundry papers Feb. 2 

<< " << \ enclosed. Feb. ,'• 

" Memorial from Murray, Sansom, & Co., Jacob 

W^atson, and Frederick Rhinelander, of New 
York. 

*' Petition of Pierre L'Farque. 

Feb. 8. Report of secret committee on petition of P. 
L'Farque. 



[ Doc. No 36. ] 83 



Feb. 8. Report of committee on memorial of Murray, San- 
som, & Co., &c. 
" Memorial from Committee of Safety of Pennsyl- 
vania. 
*' Memorial from Dr. Connolly. 

Feb. 9. Letter from General Washington. Jan. 24. 

« " " enclosing copy of — Jan. 30. 

*( Letter to General Schuyler, and Jan. 27. 

*< Sundry intercepted letters. 

" Letterfrom General Scliuyler"! Jan. 29. 

" <' « I enclosing copies of Jan. 31. 

it i< *i J Feb. 1. 

<< Two letters to General Arnold, and 

Sundry other papers. 
" Letter from Governor Trumbull, with sundry pa- 
pers enclosed. Feb. 3. 
*< Two letters from the convention of New Jersey. Feb. 6. 
<< Memorial from Mr. Kirkland. 
^' Memorial from Stacy Hepburn. 
Feb. 12. Letter from General Lee. Feb. 9. 
Feb. 13. Letter from convention of New Jersey. Feb. 10. 
" " Messrs. Dayton and Barber. Feb. 12. 
«< *< Captain John Neville. Feb. 1. 
*' " John Gibson. Jan. 20. 
" Report of committee on petition of Stacy Hepburn. 
" Petition from Bernard Romans. 
'< Report of committee to prepare an address to in 
habitants of United Colonies. 
Feb. 14. Letter from General Schuyler. Feb. 7. 
" <' General Wooster. Jan. 27. 
** <' General Arnold. Jan. 24. 
" " committee of Ambby. Feb. 10. 
" Report of Committee of Corespondence of their con- 
ference with the gentlemen from Canada. 
" Report of committee on subsisting troops in New 
York. 
Feb. 15. Letter from General Lee. Feb. 11. 
*' " General Schuyler. Feb. 4. 
'* <' General Wooster. Jan. 27. 
" Report of committee on letter from New York of 
3d January, and from Governor Trumbull of 6th 
January. 
Feb. 16. Report of Committee on procuring cannon for de- 
fence of the colonies. 
*' Report of committee on General Washington's and 
General Schuyler's letters. 
Feb. 17. Report of Committee on the state of the Treasury. 
" Report of Committee on letters of Arnold, Wooster, 

Schuyler, and Lee. 
" Report of committee on departments of Middle and 
Southern colonies. 
Feb. 20. Letter from General Lee. Feb; 17. 



84 

Feb. 20. 

i( 
ti 

Feb. 21. 
(< 

(( 

Feb. 22. 

ti 

a 
Feb. 23. 



Feb. 26. 



Feb. 27. 
Feb. 28. 



Feb. 29. 



March 1. 



March 4. 



f Doc. No. 36. ] 

Memorial from inhabitants of Northumberland, 

with six papers enclosed. 
Petition from sundry inhabitants near Pittsburg. 
Instructions to Lieutenant Brasher. 
Instructions to Q. M. Shalless. 
Letter from General Schuyler. 



ti 
a 

a 



Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. 
General Washington. 

a 

Letter to convention of New York. 
Letter from Christopher Leffingwell. with 
Sundry papers. 

Letter from General Lee. 

Petition of Lieutenant Joycelyn Feltham. 

Representationof Committee of Inspection and Ob- 
servation of Philadelphia. 

Letter from convention of New Jersey. 

Report of committee on letter of C. Leffingwell 
and others. 

Report of committee on letters from General Lee 
and New Jersey convention. 

Report of committee on prisoners. 

Petition of Anthony Marmajon, of Martinique. 

Report of committee on General Sciiuyler's let- 
ters of 10th and 13th February, and accompany- 
ing papers. 

Letter from General Washington, enclosing — 
Letter from Lord Drummond to General Ro- 
binson, and 
Sundry other papers. 

Letter from Committee of Safety of New Hampshire 
with — 

Petition from said colony, and 
Sundry other papers. 

Petition from inhabitants of Falmouth. 

Letter from Commissary J. Mease, with sundry 
queries. 

Memorial of the merchants, traders, and others, of 
Piiiladelphia. 

Statement of accounts of Massachusetts against the 
Continent. 

Letter from convention of New York. 

Memorial from sundry merchants of Montreal. 

Resolution from Committee of Inspection for coun- 
ty of Accomac. 

Letter from General Wooster. 

it a 

Letter from General Arnold. 

a it 

Letter from General Schuyler. 

it a 



Feb. 10. 

Feb. 13. 

Feb. 20. 

Feb. 9. 

Feb. 9. 

1775. 
Nov. 29. 

1776. 
Feb. 22. 



Feb. 24. 



Feb.l 14. 



Feb. 28. 



Feb. lU 
Feb. 13. 
Feb. 1. 
Feb. 12. 
Feb. 15. 
Feb. 20. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 



85 



March 4. 
a 
if 
a 



March 5. 

a 

March 6. 

a 

March 7. 

<( 

a 
March 8. 



t 



a 


March 9. 


a 


it 


March 11 


a 


March 12 


a 


it 


ti 


March 13 


a 


a 


March 14 


« 


March 15. 



Letter from General Schuyler 

it a 

" General Lee. 

" convention of New Hampshire. 
«< Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. 
Report of committee on granting permits for ex- 
porting produce, &c. 
Report of committee on memorial from Nor- 
thumberland, and petition from Pittsburg. 
Letter from Gen. Schuyler, l with four papers en- 
" '* J enclosed J one of them 

Letter from James Deane to General Schuyler. 
Letter from General Washington. 
Letter from J. Palmer, containing— 

Report from Massachusetts Assembly. 
Letter from General Washington, enclosing — 

Proceedings of a council of war. 
Letter from General Washington. 
Letter from General Schuyler. 
Letter from Lord Sterling, enclosing — 

Affidavits relative to capture of Amboy packet. 
Report of committee on letter from Committee of 

Safety of New Hampshire. 
Report of committee on letters from Schuyler, 

SVooster, and Arnold. 
Letter from Colonel Hazen, enclosing — 

Account of losses. 
Letter from Governor Trumbull. 
Letter from General Lee. 

Report of Committee of Instructions to commis- 
sioners going to Canada. 
Petition from Stephen Decatur. 
Petition from John Baptisto Hugonence. 
Letter from Lord Sterling, enclosing — 

Three papers. 
Letter from New York convention, enclosing- 
Application from Patrick Sinclair. 
Petition from Edmund Custis. 
Letter from committees of Accomac and Northamp- 
ton. 
Letter from sundry inhabitants of Westmoreland. 
Petition from Dr. Hall Jackson. 
Letter from committee of Essex, New Jersey. 
Letter from Captain J. Macpherson. 
Report of committee on memorial of Indian traders 

at Montreal. 
Report of committee to confer with General Lee, 

on the defence of New York. 
Letter from General Prescott. 
Letter from General Washington, with — 
Two papers enclosed, and 
A number of intercepted letters. 
Letter from Lord Sterling. 



Feb. 21. 

Feb. 23. 
Feb. 29. 
Feb. 8. 



Feb. 26. 
Feb. 27. 
Feb. 24. 
Feb. 26. 



Feb. 18,21 

Feb. 29. 
Feb. 23. 



Feb. 18. 

March 2. 
March 5. 



March 8. 
March 7. 



March 7. 



March 14. 
March 7. 



March 12. 



86 



I Doc. No. 36. J 



March 15, 


<< 


a 


i( 


March 16. 


a 


ti 


March 19. 


(( 


ii 


a 


a 


it 


a 


March 20, 


it 



t( 


March 21. 


March 22. 


n 


n 


ii 


ti 


March 23. 



a 


March 25 


(( 


a 


(( 


March 28 



March 29. 



Letter from Lord Sterling. Marcli IS. 

Letter IVoin Lieutenant Coh)ncl Allen March 13. 

Letter fronti convention of New York. 

Letter from General Schuylei*. March 6. 

Letter from Lord Sterling, enclosing — March 14. 

General orders for defence of New York.' 

Petition from Coquataginta, or Capt. White Eyes. 

Petition from Daniel Blewcr and David Rohinson. 

Letter from Colonel Dayton. March 15. 

Letter from the convention of New Jersey. March 17. 

Letter from Belletre. 

Sundry letters from Cameron and Smith. 

Further report on instructions of commissioners 
to Canada. 

Report of committee on queries of Mr. Mease. 

Report of committee on letters from General 
Washington of 14th and 26th February, and 
Lord Sterling of 26th February. 

Letter from Lord Sterling. March 16. 

Report of committee to promote making mus- 
kets, Sec. 

Report of committee on supplying the army in Ca- 
nada. 

Petition of John Secord. 

Letter from General Schuyler, with— March 7. 

Return of forces before Quebec. 

Letter from General Washington, enclosing— March IS. 

Proceedings of a council of war. 

Letter from Lord Sterling. March 19. 

Petition from Thorowgood Smith and others. 

Report of committee appointed to prepare a decla- 
ration. 

Letters from the camp at Cambridge. 

Letter from James Young. 

Letter from Lord Sterling, enclosing — • March 18. 

Letter from William De Hart, and a 
Letter from captains and subalterns of 1st 
New Jersey battalion. 

Memorial of Thomas Scott. 

Letter from S. Biidlam. 

Letter from General Washington. March 19. 

Letter from General Schuyler. March 12. 

Letter from Lord Sterling. March 21. 

Letter from the Committetof Safety of New Jersey. 

Memorial of Thomas Walker. 

Two letters from Committee of Safety of New 

Jersey. March 27. 

Report of committee to confer with Colonel Ritzeraa 
and Mr. Dugan. 

Letter from General Schuyler. March 19. 

«' '< with copy of — March 21. 

Treaty with Indians at Albany. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 



87 



March £9. 

a 

ti 

i( 
Mai'ch 30. 
April 1. 



April 2. 



April 3. 



April 4. 

<< 

April 6. 



a 

April 9. 

a 



April 10. 

a 
a 

April U. 

a 

April 12. 



April 13. 



Letter from convention of New York. 

Letter from Allan M'Donald. 

Letter from Committee of Safety of New Jersey. 

Letter from Captain John Macpherson. 

Report of committee to confer with Major Wrixon. 

Report of committee on petition of Captain White 
Eyes. 

Letter from Alexander M'Donald, George Gilles- 
pie, and J. W. Saunders. 

Letter from General Washington, with— 
Five papers enclosed. 

Letter of thanks to General Washington, &c. 

Report of committee on letter from M. IJelletre, of 
March — . 

Memorial from Captain John Nelson. 

Petition from P. Moore. 

Letter from H. Fisher to Committee of Safety of 
Pennsylvania, with — 
Resolve of said committee. 

Report of committee on petition of James M'Knight, 
and letter from A. M' Donald and others. 

Further report of committee on supplying army in 
Canada. 

Report of committee on letter of 9th March from 
General Schuyler, and on letter of 26th March 
from W. Paulding, chairman of committee of 
New York convention. 

Letter from General Washington, [papers enclosed.] 

Letter from General Heath. 

Report of committee on prisoners. 

List of prisoners from Canada. 

Letter from John Nelson to committee of Bruns- 
wick. 

Letter from Colonel Haslett. 

Letter from Captain Brice. 

Letter from General Wooster. 

Letter from General Schuyler. 

Two letters from General Washington. 

Letter from John Connolly. 

Report of committee on petition of Captain White 
Eyes. 

Letter from General Putnam, with— 
Sundry papers enclosed. 

Petition from Eliplialet Dyer and William Wil- 
liams, onbehalf of colony of Connecticut. 

Letter from W. N. Drayton, president of conven- 
tion of South Carolina. 

Letter from J. Haslett, enclosing an — 
Account of action, &c. 

Petition from Colonel James Easton. 

Memorial from Scotch hostages. 

Queries from Dr. Mease to Congress. 



March 26. 



March 24. 



March 2r. 



April 4. 



March 6. 
March 26. 
April 1. 
April 8. 



April r. 



March 2L 
April 10. 



88 C Doc. No. 36. ] 

April 13. Petition from Walpack, &c. Sussex county, New 
Jersey. 
(' Letter from Congress to Committee of Safety of 

New Jersey. 
April 15. Letter from General Washington, enclosing — April 4. 

Letter from Governor Cooke, and account of 
powder, &c. 
" Letter from General Schuyler, enclosing — April 2. 

Eight papers. 
« Report of committee on petition of towns of Wal- 

pack, 6cc. New Jersey. 
<' Letter from President of Congress to General 

Schuyler. 
<' Report of committee on petition of John Secord. 

<< Petition from Moses Kirkland, a prisoner. 

<< Petition of Thomas Learning, in behalf of Commit- 

tee of Inspection of Cape May. 
April 16. Letter from Commodore E. Hopkins, enclosing — April 9. 
List of cannon and stores brought from Provi- 
dence. 
*< Letter from committee of Baltimore, enclosing — April 14. 

Intercepted letters from Secretary of State to 
Governor Eden. 
" Letter from General Thomas. 

<' Letter from II. Beaumont, surgeon of 26th regi- 

ment. April 15. 

<< Letter from President of Congress to Commodore 

Hopkins. 
April 18. Letter from General Washington. April 15. 

1775. 
** Letter from Rev. Samuel Langdon, accompanied Nov. 7. 

with — 

Letters from General Putnam, 
Colonel Glover, 
Colonel Bridge, 
Colonel Fry, and 
Colonel Prescott. 

1776. 
*' Letter from James Warren, Paymaster General. 

<' Letter from Elizabeth Seymour. 

<< Letter from Brigadier General Lewis. April 6. 

*< Letter from General Lee. April 6. 

" Report of committee on establishing War Office. 

April 19. Letter from Gov. Trumbull. April 2. 

*' Petition from Noah Phelps. ♦ 

" Report of committee on Gen. Washington's letter 

of the 15th inst., "as well as other letters." 
*< Report of committee on Gen. Washington's letter 

of the 4th, and Gen. Schuyler's letter of the 2d 
instants. 
<' Report from the committee on prisoners. 

April 22. Letter from Committee of Safety of Maryland. April 18. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 89 

April £2. Letter from Dr. Boyd. April 19. 

*< Letter from Committee of Inspection of Lancaster. April 11. 

** Letter from one of tlie Canada commissioners, April 13. 

« Letter from Gen. Schuyler, enclosing — April 12. 

Sundry letters and papers from Canada. 
<< Letter from Gen. Washington. April 19. 

<' Letter from Committee of Inspection of West Au- 

gusta, with simdry papers enclosed. 
April 23. Letter from Gen. Ward. April 12. 

'' Report of committee on the letters from Gen. 

Washington, Gen. Schuyler, and the letters from 
Canada and Pittsburg. 
<< Letter from President of Congress to Col. Hazen. 

** Instructions to commissioners in Canada — 

Address to inhabitants of Canada. 
« Letter from President to Gen. Washington. 

April 24. Memorial from Committee of Inspection and Ob- 
servation of Philadelphia. 
« Instructions to Mr. Price. 

" Letter to Gen. Schuyler. 

April 25. Letter from Gen. Washington. April 22. 

<( « « « April 23. 

" Report of committee on petition of Noah Phelps. 

<< Report of committee on letter from Lord Sterling, 

of March 10th. 
*' Intercepted letter from John Butler, at Niagara. Feb. 29. 

" Report of committee on statement <' that the In- 

dians have been invited by Governor Penn to 
come to Philadelphia." 
April 26. Letter from Dr. Cadv^alader. 

<< Report of committee on letters from Gen. Wash- 

ington, of 22(1 and 23d instants. 
*' Muster rolls, &c. of militia for defence of N. York. 

April 27. Sundry letters and papers from North Carolina— April 10. 
Affidavit respecting capture of W. Ginn's 

brigade. 
Letter from Samuel Johnson, President of 

North Carolina convention, enclosing — 
Sundry resolves of the convention, and extract 
of letter from General Moore. 
" Memorial from Committee of Safety of Pennsyl- 

vania. 
April 29. Letter from Gen. Washington, enclosing — April 25. 

Return of the army at New York. 
*' Letter from Major Wrixon. , 

" Letter from Council of Safety of Maryland, with — \^^J-i * *' 

Examination of Alexander Ross, and ..t^^'f ♦"" * . 

Sundry papers found in his possession. <, * * 

** Letter from Gen. Lee. April 19. 

*' Letter from Thomas Bullett. 

" Petition from Dr. J. Potts. . t 

7 V 



90 [ Doc. No. 36. j 

April 30. Repoit of committee on memorial from Committee 
of Inspection and Observation of Philadelpliia. 
« Rej)ort of committee oii (ien. Washington's letter 

of 24tli March. 
May 2. Letter from Committee of Secrecy, War, and In- April 2. 
telligence, of North Carolina, with — 
A list of prisoners sent to Pliiladelphia. 
« Letter from Gen. Washington, enclosing— April 30. 

Memorial from Governor Cooke. 
« Letter from Committee of Safety of New York. April 29. 

<< Letter to Gen. Schuyler. 

«< Letter from Henry Fisher to Committee of Safety 

of Pcjinsylvania. April 1. 

*' Report of committee on papers laid before Con- 

gress by delegates from North Carolina. 
May 3. Petition from Peter Simon. 
*• Petition fronj Oswald Eve. 

" Report of committee to whom report on General 

Washington's letter of March 24tU was recom- 
mitted. 
May 4. Letter from Col. Hand. May 3. 

<' Letter from General Wooster. April 10. 

<' Letter from Gejieral Scliuylei*, enclosing — April 28. 

Examination of Michael Ryan. 
Letter from Gov. Trumbull, enclosing — April 27. 

Letter from N. Shaw, with 
A list of cannon left at New London. 
May 6. Cargo imported by Capt. Young, for the Continent. 
" Memorial of Capt. Herman Allen. 

" Letter from General Lee. April 24. 

May 7. Letter from General W^ashington. April 5. 

<< Letter from John G. Frazer, enclosing — April 14. 

List of the vessels, cannon, and stores, left by 
the enemy at Boston. 
«< Letters from sundry prisoners at Hartford. March 21. 

« Letter from L. F. of St. Eustatia. April 5. 

« Petition from John Bayard, P. Moore, and John 

Patton. 
May 8. Letter from General Washington. May 5. 

" Letter from William Palfrey, Paymaster General. May 4. 

<< Letter from Captain De la Place, (a prisoner.) May 2. 

« Petition from Captain Gideon Warren. 

« Letter from Gideon Warren, chairman of Commit- 

, tee of New Hampshire Grants. 

'*i ' Instructions given by Naval Committee to Commo- 
dore Hopkins. 
May 9. Letter from A. B. Livingston. 

" Letter from Colonel James Easton. May 8. 

<< Application for a .safe conduct for Mrs. Bellew. 

<' Report of committee on petition and accounts of 

Captain Herman Allen. 
<< Report of Committee on Prisoners on letter from 

Henry Beauntont. 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 91 



May 9. Report (in part) of committee on raising ten mil- 
lions for service of the current year. 

" Report of committee on application for Mrs. Bel- 

lew. 
May. 10. Letter from General Washington. May 7. 

" Letter from Thomas Gushing. May 3. 

<< Letter from Mons. Docaisor. 

" Report of committee on General Washington's let- 

ter of the 5th instant, and enclosed papers. 

" Report of committee on General Washington's let- 

ters of 25th and 26th of April ; the 
Case of Alexander Ross ; and the 
Letter from General Lee. 

** Report of committee on the state of the Eastern De- 

partment. 

" Proceedings of Committee of Secret Correspond- 

ence. 

" Report of committee on exchanging seamen. 

*< Report of committee on letter from A. B. Livings- 

ton. 
May 11. Petition from John Jacobs. 

'* Resolutions of board of ofBcers in Philadelphia. 

*• Petition from committee of privates of the military 

association of Philadelphia. 

*' Memorial from Cannier de la Berthandure. 

May 13. Letter from General Washington. May 9. 

" Petition from Dr. Benjamin Church. 

" Petition from Benjamin, Samuel, and Edward 

Church. 

*' Petition from John Connolly and John Smith, with 

a letter from Dr. Cadwalader. 

" Letter from George Morgan, Pittsburg. May 3» 

** Proceedings of Committee of Secret Correspond- 

ence. (See May 10th.) 

" Letter from Edmund Pendleton, Pi-esident of the 

Committee of Safety of Virginia. 
May 14. Letter from General Washington, enclosing — May 11. 
Sundry papers. 

" Letter from General Schuyler. May 3. 

*' Letter from Daniel Robertson. May 9. 

** Report of committee on petition of Dr. Church, &c. 

** Report of committee on letter from General Wash- 

ington of the 5th, and letter from Captain De la 
Place of the 2d. 

<* Letter from General Lee, with — May 7. 

Sundry papers enclosed. 

« Report of committee on letter from Committee of 

Safety of New Hampshire, and other papers 
from that colony. 
May 16. Letter from the commissioners of Congress in 

Canada. May 1. 

« Letter from General Scliuvler. May 10. 



92 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

May 16. Letter from General Washington, {no daic,) en- 
closifig — 

Letter from Dr. Stringer to Gen. Washington. 

<' Letter from the President of Congress to General 

Washington. 

" Petition fiom Joseph Carson and Joseph Donaldson. 

*< Report of committee on — 

Letter from General Washington of the 1 Ith ; the 
Letter from General Schuyler of the 3d ; the 
Letter from Captain Robertson of the 9th ; with 
Other papers. 

" Report of committee on — 

Letters from General Washington of £5th and 

£6th of April ; the 
Case of Alexander Ross ; and the 
Letter from General Lee. 
May"! 8. Letter from General Washington. May 17. 

" Letter from the commissioners in Canada. May 6. 

<« « << *< May 8. 

tt i( a <( May 10. 

" Report of committee on General Lee's letters of 
April 19th and May 7th. 

** Petition from Joseph Trumbull, Commissary Gen- 
eral. 

" Communication from Secret Committee. 

*' Letter from Mr. Langdon. 

" Petition from Ignace Labal. 

May 20. Letter from Gen. Lee, with three papers enclosed. May 10. 

*' Resolutions of convention of South Carolina. 

*' Resolutions passed by the General Assembly of 
South Carolina. 
May 21. Letter from General Washington. May 18. 

" « *< May 19. 

« << « enclosing May 20. 

Sundry letters and papers of intelligence from 

England, and copy of — 
Treaty with Duke of Brunswick. 
Treaty with Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, and 
Treaty with Count of Hanau. 

*' Letter from William Palfrey. 

<< Letter from John Langdon to Gen. Washington. 

" Petition from Samuel Austin, and others, of Boston. 

« (Address to the foreign mercenaries coming to 

America.) 

" Report of committee on letter of the 10th instant 

from General Lee. 

" Letter fi-om Allan McDonald to John Nixon, 

President of Committee of Safety of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

** Report of committee on letters from Gen. Wash- 

ington, General Schuyler, and commissioners in 
Canada. 



[ Doc. No. 36. J 93 



May 21. Report of committee on emitting five millions of 

dollars. 
May 22. Petition from James M'Kniglit. 

*' Report of committee on petition of P. Simons. 

** Account of the number and weight of cannon taken 

at Providence. 

" Report of committee on value of gold and silver 
coins. 
May 23. Letter from Charles Miller to Joseph Trumbull, 

Commissary General. 
May 24. Letter from Mrs. Abi. Grant. 

*' Report of committee on petition of Captain Her- 

man Allen. 

** Report of committee on petition of Joseph Trum- 

bull. 

*< Report of committee to confer with Generals Wash- 

ington, Gates, and Mifflin. 

" Conference with General Washington. 

*< Letter of the 26th of April, from convention of 

North Carolina, with a list of prisoners sent by 
them to Philadelphia. April 26. 

** Sundry resolutions of the convention of Maryland. 

May 25. Letter from Colonel William Wind. 

<' Petition from committee of county of Lincoln. 

<< Petition from John Wilcox and John and Peter 

Chevalier. 

<< Petition from James M'Kniglit. 

<< Memorial from Committee of Inspection and Ob- 

servation of city and liberties of Philadelphia. 

<< Conference with General Washington. 

<< (Committee to confer with Generals Washington, 

Gates, and Mifflin.) 

*' Letter to President of Virginia convention. 

" Report of committee on resolutions of convention 

of South Carolina. 

" Report of committee on letter from Charles Miller, 

May 27. Letter from George Morgan to Lewis Morris. May 16. 

" Petition from Samuel de Liicena. 

<< Petition from committee of Monmouth county, 

New Jersey. 

*' Conference with deputies of the Six Nations. 

" Instructions of North Carolina convention to dele- 

gates in Congress. April 12. 

<' Instructions of Virginia convention to delegates in 

Congress. May 15. 

May 28. Report of committee on regulating price of salt. 
May 29. Letter from General Wooster. April 27". 

« Letter from AVilliam Palfrey, with weekly account. 

*' Petition from Captain Budden. 

*< Letter from Levi Hollingsworth and Thomas Rich- 

ardson to Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. May 21. 

** Memorial from sundry members of Rhode Island 
Assembly. 



94 [ Doc. No. 36. J 



May 29. Report of committee appointed to confer with the 
Generals. 
<< Letter from Mr. Jay, (introducing a foreigner.) 

May 30. Report of committee on letter from Joseph Wood- 
ward, chairman of Committee of New Hamp- 
shire Grants. 
*< Report of committee on reward of person who 

broiigiit the intelligence from England. 
" Petition from Captain Herman Allen. 

May 31. Letter from Com. E. Hopkins, enclosing — May22» 

Proceedings of court martial on John Hazard, 

of the sloop Providence. 
Proceedings of court martial on Abraham 
Whipple, of the Columbus. 
** Letter from Jonathan Trumbull. May 21. 

** Petition of Hugh King. 

<* Further report of Committee of Conference. 

June 1. Letter from committees of Hartford and Northamp- 
ton, in Connecticut. 
** Letter from Gov. Trumbull. May 27. 

** Letter from Col. J. Read. 

*< Report of Committee on Indian Affairs. 

June 3. Sundry letters received by Gen. Washington. 
" Further report from Committee of Conference. 

June 4. Letter from William Palfrey. June 3. 

" Letter from John Macpherson. May 31. 

•* Petition from Col. Turbutt Francis. •'.' 

" Report of Committee of the Whole on report of 

Committee of Conference. 
June 5. Letter from Gen. Putnam, with — June 2. 

Sundry letters and papers enclosed. 
" Letter from the Committee of Greenwich, Cum- 

berland CO., N. J. 
June 6. Letter from Gen. Schuyler. May SI. 

" << « « June 1. 

** " commissioners in Canada. May 27,28. 

" << Gen. Tiiomas to commissioners. May 15. 

*< << Gen. Thomas to same. May 20. 

" <* Gen. Thomas to Gen. Wooster. May 27. 

" « Gen. Arnold. May 17. 

" « *' " May 25. 

" << << '< enclosing — May 27. 

Cartel with Capt. Foster, for exchange of pris- 
oners. ' 
*< Letter from Gen. Thompson to the commissioners. 
*< Speech to the Indians, (adopted.) • 
** Memorial of Jacob Ummensetter. 
June 7. Report of committee on letter from Com. E. Hop- 
kins, of May 22. 
<* " Certain resolutions respecting independency." 
" Report of committee on attempt to counterfeit bills 
of credit. 



(< 
it 



[ Doc. No. 36. ] 95 

June 8. Petition of John Bayard, Joseph Deane, and Wil- 
liam Erskine. 
Jane 10. Letter from Gen. Washington. June 7. 

« " " with— June 8. 

Twenty-one letters and papers from Gen. 
Schuyler, &c. 
" Letter from commissioners in Canada. May 17. 

<< <* Capt. Herman Allen. 

" << Stephen Moylan. 

'' <' convention of New York. June 7. 

June 11. « Gen. Washington. June 9. 

*' " " June 10. 

« H. E. Stanhope. May U. 

" E. Webb. May 12. 

" << Mrs. Connolly. 

*' " Gen. Sullivan. June 1. 

<' Letters to the several colonies who are to furnish 

militia for the defence of New York. 
" Account of proceedings of commissioners in Canada, 

and the state of the array in that country. 
June 12. Report of committee on Col. Hand's letter of 
May 3. 
•< Report of commissioners to Canada. 

" Report of committee on letters from commissioners 

to Canada, and letters from Gen. Schuyler, with 
the papers enclosed. 
June 13. Letter from Mr. McKean. June 13. 

" " committee of Lewistown. June 11. 

** *' James McLenc, chairman of committee 

of Shippensburg. 
*< Letter from President to James McLene. 

" New York convention, June 11. 

Report from Marine Committee, that complaints 
are made against Com. E. Hopkins, &c. 
June 14. Letter from Committee of Safety of Maryland. June 10. 
" Letter from commissioners in Canada. May 16. 

*< Letter from Gen. Washington, enclosing — June 13, 

Two letters from Gen. Schuyler, and June 18. 

Sundry other letters and papers. 
" Letter from W. Livingston enclosing — June 13. 

Letter from Thomas Little. June 2. 

** Report of committee on letters from Gen. Wash- 
ington of the 9th and 10th, and letter from New- 
York convention, with the papers enclosed. 
^< Report of committee on Gen. Washington's letter 

of the 15th, and Gen. Schuyler's letter of the 
8th. 
" Petition from Mrs. * * * [Gardner.] 

<< * Memorial of Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. 
June 15. Letter from Mr. McKean. June 13. 

** Letter from P. Peters. 



i( 



t( 



96 [ Doc. No. 36. ] 

June 15. Letter from General Washington, enclosing — June 14. 
Letter from General Scliuyler, and June 10. 

Sundi'y otlier papers, 
" Letter from Committee of Safety of Virginia. June 5. 

*' Letter from Governor Trumbull, with — June 10. 

Sundry papers enclosed. 
" Letter from David Waterbury, with accounts. June 6. 

<< Memorial from owners of private ships of w ar. 

" Letter from the President to Governor Trumbull. 
June ir. Letter from General Armstrong. May 7. 

" Letter from the committee of Albany. June 6. 

<' Report of Board of War on Governor Trumbull's 

letter of June 10. 
" Letters to conventions of New York, &c. 

** Inventory of ordnance stores taken by Captain 

Manly. 
<< Report of committee on cartel between General 

• Arnold and Captain Foster. 
" Report of committee on petition, Colonel Turbutt 

Francis. 
« Report of committee on spies. 

" Report of committee on letter of Wm. Palfrey. 

June 18. Letter from General Washington, enclosing — June 16. 

Letter from General Ward, and June 9. 

Letter from William Palfrey. June 16. 

« Three letters from General Schuyler. Junell,12. 

<< Letter from General Sullivan. June 5. 

" Letter from General Sullivan. June 6. 

" Letter from General Arnold. June 5. 

« Letter from General Arnold. June 6. 

<« Letter from W. Palfrey, enclosing weekly return. 

*' Letter from J. Trumbull, Com. General. June 17. 

<< Letter from Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania. 

« Memorial from Dr. John Morgan. 

« Report of committee on resolutions of convention of 

South Carolina. 
June 19. Letter from convention of New Jersey, enclosing — June 18, 
Ordinance for raising 3, 300 militia for defence 

of New York, and 
Proceedings in apprehending William Frank- 
lin, Esq., late Governor. 
<< Report of I5oard of War and Ordnance on letter 

from General Washington, of the I6th, and 
sundry other letters and papers. * 

Muster roll of ninth Virginia battalion. May 31. 

Memorial from the mates of the hospital. 
Report of Marine Committee on petition ol William 

Adams, surgeon. 
Letter from General Washington. '- June 17. 

Letter from convention of New Jersey. 
Petition from Carpenter Wharton. 

Letter from convention of New Jersey, with — June 21. 
Sundry letfbrs fi-om prisoners at Burlington, 



« 


(( 


« 


June 20, 


« 


« 


June 21, 



June 21. Report of Board of War and Ordnance on case of 

officers who served last winter in Canada. 

June 24. Letter from General Washington. June 20. 

" Letter from General Wasliington, with — June 21. 

Sundry papers enclosed. 

" Letter to General Washington. 

" Letter to Governor Trumbull. 

<< Letter from convention of New Jersey, with — June 21, 

Sundry papers enclosed 

*< Letter to General Washington. 

" Petition from Antoine Felix Wilbert. 

*< Report of Board of War and Ordnance on petition 

from Carpenter Wharton. 

" Letter to General Washington. 

June 25. Letter from General Washington. June 2S. 

^General SchuyJer, 

,, o I I x^ f J General Sullivan, 

*' Sundry letters from ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^j^^ 

l^And others. 
" Memorial from Captain Stephen Rowe Bradley. 

<* Declaration of deputies of Pennsylvania, in pro- 

vincial confei'ence. 
*< Report of Board of War and Ordnance on the let- 

ters received this morning. 
*< Letters to General Assemblies of the Colonies from 

whence militia have been requested. 
June 26. Letter from General Washington. June 21. 

'' Letter from General Wooster, June 26. 

<< Report of Board of War. 

" Letter to President of New York convention. 

" Letter from General Washington to one of the 

members. 
" Report of committee on petition of William Whit- 

ing. 
** Report of Committee on the Treasury on petition of 

Stephen Rowe Bradley. 
June 27. Letter from Governor Trumbull. June 17. 

** Petition from Colonel John Brown. 

*< Petition from William Holton. 

" Letter from General Lee, enclosing — . June 6. 

Letter from John Rutledge to Gen. Lee, and June 4. 
Letter from Gen. Armstrong to Gen. Lee. June 4. 
" Letter from General Lewis, enclosing — June 18. 

Letter from General Lee to General Lewis. June 4. 
" Account of cannon left at New London by Com. 

Hopkins, and of other cannon there. 
<* Letter from Commissioners of Indian Affairs for 

the Southern Department, with — 
Sundry papers enclosed. 
" Report of Board of War and Ordnance on para- 

graph of a letter from General Washington to 
one of the members. 
8 



98 f Doc. No. 36. ] 

June 27- List of all the vacancies in the army. 

<' Report of committee on raising German battalion. 

June 28. Petition from Colonel James Easton. 
*' Petition from William Poole. 

<« Report of committee appointed to prepare a decla- 

ration, &c. 
*« Petition from Christopher Champlain. 

July 1. Three letters from General Washington, with — June27,i 
Sundry letters and papers enclosed, 
<< Letter fromrf^onvention of New Hampshire. June 17 

« Letter fi'om convention of New Jersey. June 29 

« Letter from General Lewis. June 17 

<< Letter from Benjamin Harrison, jun. 

« Proceedings of Maryland convention. June 28 

<* Letter from General Washington. June 29 

July 2. Letter from General Washington, enclosing— June 30 

Sundry papers ; among which, copy of a 
Letter from Lt. Col. Campbell to Gen. Howe. 
<< Letter from Council of Massachusetts Bay. June 26 

« Letter from Governor Trumbull. June 20. 

« Letter from Paymaster General, with weekly ac- 

count 
July 3, Letter from the convention of New Jersey. July 2. 

« Letter from Commissioners of Indian Affairs for 

Southern Department, with — May 21 

Account of their expenses, and 
Minutes of their conference with Indians in 
that department. 
<* Letter to committees of Pennsylvania. 






